FC Nantes won through to the Coupe de France final as they got the better of AS Monaco 4-2 on penalties after regulation time had finished 2-2 on Wednesday night. Les Canaris now face OGC Nice in the showpiece final at the Stade de France on 8 May.
Antoine Kombouaré's Nantes, seventh in Ligue 1 Uber Eats, are now through to the Coupe de France final after prevailing over Monaco in a dramatic evening at the Stade de la Beaujoire on Wednesday.
Kombouaré: 'A rare moment'
"A lot of images come to mind: huge satisfaction, pride and things that are a little bit beyond my comprehension," beamed a somewhat overwhelmed Kombouaré. "I saw the people stream onto the pitch, it's a rare moment. It's very beautiful what we're experiencing. We made a very good start, but afterwards, we suffered a lot."
Indeed, it was an intense battle that saw the sides at level pegging for most of the match. Djibril Sidibé (21', o.g.) cancelled out Guillermo Maripan's opener for Monaco and Myron Boadu did the same (76') after Samuel Moutoussamy put Nantes in front (74'), paving the way for Nantes' reserve 'keeper Rémy Descamps to prove the hero in a penalty shoot-out.
Descamps denies Ben Yedder
Alban Lafont's replacement in the Coupe this season, Descamps dealt Monaco a blow when he saved the very first penalty of the shoot-out, denying Ligue 1 Uber Eats top scorer Wissam Ben Yedder. With Nantes outfielders Randal Kolo Muani, Quentin Merlin, Moutoussamy and Moses Simon all getting the better of Alexander Nübel and Monaco's Aurélien Tchouameni blazing over, the single save was enough to send Les Canaris through.
"As for Rémy (Descamps)," continued Kombouaré, "I think he could have done much better, especially for the two goals. But he was very strong, mentally, because he was very good in the penalty shootout. He deserved to play, he had had some great performances. But that doesn't mean anything for the final."
Kombouaré: 'Totally insane'
Nantes will face off against Nice in the final at the Stade de France on 8 May looking to rack up a fourth-ever Coupe de France win for the club - their first since 2000 and the first silverware since their league and league cup double in 2001.
"I told my players that they are totally insane. They've beaten Lens (3-2) and PSG (3-1) already," wrapped up Kombouaré. "Compared to last season, with the same players, the same team, we are seventh in Ligue 1 and we are in the final of the Coupe de France: it exceeds my wildest dreams. We are proud, but we won't get carried away."
Nantes' next test comes in the form of Montpellier, who travel to the Stade de la Beaujoire for their Round 27 fixture on Sunday afternoon.
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