In a lively match, AS Monaco wins the Coupe Gambardella!
They did it! Dominant throughout the match, the AS Monaco U-18s won the 2022-2023 edition of the Coupe Gambardella. In this final, Frédéric Barilaro decided to play again a 4-3-3 with two changes compared to the team who beat Pau in the semifinals. Mathis Coudour and Lucas Michal came in on the right flank, while Joan Tincres would lead the line.
A poorly rewarded period of domination
Uninhibited by playing in an 80,000-seat stadium, the Monegasques started the game with a big chance as a result of strong play by Tincres. Unfortunately, his shot hit the post (4′). He remained lively, though, and would soon see a goal be flagged off for offisde by Dan Sinaté (6′).
Frédéric Barilaro’s players then pushed hard to open the scoring but they were caught out on a corner by Robin Pages, who scored on a favorable counterattack (14′). It was an unfortunate goal that did not destabilize the Principality side, who kept getting forward and were rewarded shortly after the twentieth minute by Mayssam Benama.
L’égalisation de Mayssam Benama en vidéo 🔥🎥
1⃣-2⃣ #CF63ASM | #MadeInLaDiagonale pic.twitter.com/ypHfVCGHc3
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) April 29, 2023
Benama and Tincres, the winning combination
Well found near the penalty spot by Saïmon Bouabré, our number six scored with his right foot, putting the ball in off the crossbar (22′). It was a fifth goal for him, having been the Rouge et Blanc‘s best scorer in the competition. After opening the scoring, they would even go ahead three minutes later through Joan Tincres, who scored after a fabulous bit of skill cutting in from the right (25’).
Le festival de Joan Tincres qui a permis aux Monégasques de basculer en tête à la pause ✊
1⃣-2⃣ #CF63ASM | #MadeInLaDiagonale pic.twitter.com/swT15loMpj
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) April 29, 2023
Already having scored in the semifinals, the native of Mantes-la-Jolie did it again in the final! Reinvigorated by taking the lead, our youngsters continued to be dangerous and Lucas Michal won a penalty. Unfortunately, the shot from the first scorer of the day was stopped by Théo Ramousse, who dove to his right (34′).
The perfect connection between Michal and Bouabré
Ahead by a goal at the break, La Diagonale were then close to being surprised after the break on a free kick from 18 meters taken by Mohamed-Amine Bouchenna. Taken on the goalkeeper’s side, his attempt would go slightly over the bar (50′). After this scare, our youngsters would double the lead seven minutes later through Saïmon Bouabré, who was well-found by Lucas Michal at the far post (57′).
Le troisième but monégasque signé Saïmon Bouabré 💎
1⃣-3⃣ #CF63ASM | #MadeInLaDiagonale pic.twitter.com/PCMtcKxjuj
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) April 29, 2023
And while we thought we had done the hardest thing, the opponents would reduce the lead through Colas Chastang, who popped up to score from a knock-on at a free kick from range (64′). It was then necessary for Ethan Schulz in goal to do well to prevent Clermont scoring an equalizer (70′), (71′) from a pair of long-range efforts.
A goal to seal a fifth title by Cabral
These attempts had the gift of waking up the players of Frédéric Barilaro. On a cross from Mathis Coudour, goalkeeper Théo Ramousse hesitated in the air, and Pape Cabral took advantage of this at the far post to score with his right foot (82′). This fourth goal thus sealed the match; all the team had to do was manage the match so confirm a magnificent run in tournament.
AS Monaco thus won 4-2 against Clermont Foot in this final of the Coupe Gambardella, winning the competition for the fifth time after 1962, 1972, 2011 and 2016. The Principality club is now the second-most successful team in the competition’s history, behind only Auxerre (7).
BRAVO LES GARS!!! DAGHE MUNEGU! 🇲🇨👏
𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 🏆
❤️ 𝗗𝗮𝗴𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗴𝘂 🤍#MadeInLaDiagonale pic.twitter.com/kRrs34Kwd6
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) April 29, 2023
Match deails
Saturday, April 29 – Stade de France
Coupe Gambardella – Final: Clermont Foot 2-4 AS Monaco
Halftime: 1-2
Goals: Pages (14′), Chastang (64′) for Clermont; Benama (22′), Tincres (25′), Bouabré (57′), Cabral (82′) for AS Monaco
Bookings: none
Clermont Foot: Ramousse – Coulibaly, Koné, Mazeyrat, Pages – Tribout (Ihaddadene, 46′), Cantero, Astic © (Alberto, 80′) – Bouchenna, Admar, Fakili (Cohade, 85′)
Substitutes: Azagoh, Chastang, Cohade, Alberto, Ihaddadene
Manager: Sébastien Mazeyrat
AS Monaco: Schulz – Coudour, Valme ©, Eser, Sinaté – Cabral, Benama, Bamba (Gesan, 70′) – Michal, Tincres (Dendani, 76′), Bouabré
Substitutes: Benchaouch, Sitou, Gesan, Bertolucci, Dendani
Manager: Frédéric Barilaro
