Opening the 32nd round of the Coupe de France, Olympique Marseille received Montpellier. A poster between clubs D1, the only one of the 32nd finals, which turned to the advantage of Montpellier with a 2-1 victory obtained in the very last moments of the game.

Finalist of the last two editions of the Coupe de France, Montpellier is once again natural contenders for the final victory, a competition that seems perhaps more accessible for the Héraultaises a success in D1. But to make a good run in the Cup, the adventure began with a trip to Marseille.

Such a distant 5-0
In the league, Marseille had received Montpellier players early in the season, with a scathing 5-0 suffered by the Olympians in September. Since then, the machine seems to have started with a 2016 end of the year where OM has been full of points and now seems to rely on a better oiled collective and an eleven renewed in recent weeks by Christophe Parra, the Olympian coach.

This impression of an OM changed since the last meeting between the two teams was particularly felt in the first period. Faced with a Montpellier team that often starts strong meetings, OM did not seem intimidated and the first minutes of the match saw both teams neutralize themselves. Several strikes first by Sandrine Bretigny (3rd) then Sandie Toletti (5th) on free-kick and a half-volley by Marie-Charlotte Léger (14th) but a first quarter of an hour when the defenses were not worried from either side.

However, in the 17th minute, Marseille found the opening. On a center from the left, Sakina Karchaoui can not intercept the ball which benefits Charlotte Lozé. The Olympian striker gets the ball at the far post and has time to adjust Solène Durand on a cross shot. A goal scored almost logically by OM who showed a beautiful face early in the game multiplying combinations and phases of play undoubtedly worked in training and repeated in the 32nd to try to outflank the defense Herault.

Montpellier missed the first period
A first half where the control seemed Marseilles. Only dangerous action for Montpellier, a cross shot by Sofia Jakobsson in the area and which passes very close to the right post of Pauline Peyraud-Maignan (38th). The last action of the period is Marseille, against a counter, which ends with a shot by Nora Coton-Pelagie that passes over the goal of Solène Durand (41).

At half time we have the feeling to witness a small sensation. Montpellier seemed to be struggling on this first period. In the first half, the offensive quartet Jakobsson / Thomas / Léger / Cayman had a hard time expressing himself, and a general impression of an unimaginative team.

After the break, Jean Louis Saez made two changes with the arrival of Virgina Torrecilla and Stina Blackstenius in place of Lindsey Thomas and Marie-Charlotte Léger. A second period with the two winter recruits on the field. Janyce Cayman back in the lineup behind Sofia Jakobsson was in the second period a more eccentric position while Montpellier has evolved with a midfielder with Anouk Dekker, Sandie Toletti and Virginia Torrecilla.

As expected, Montpellier was more enterprising in the second half, with a greater contribution of midfield and later with Sakina Karchaoui who caused a lot and obtained several free kicks close to the surface Marseille left side.

Inevitable Sofia Jakobsson
The first significant action of the second period is a strike from Virginia Torrecilla at 18 meters on a left-back center from Stina Blackstenius (54 '). In the first quarter of an hour, however, Marseille seems to hold the shock with some attempts by Sandrine Bretigny (56) on a shot at 20 meters and then on a corner where a Marseille head passes right of the goal Herault (58th).

However, Montpellier manages to return to the score. On a center Janyce Cayman right side, the Marseille defense fails to clear the ball that reaches the far post where Sofia Jakobsson can deflect the ball to the Olympian nets (62). An equalizer that opens a final half-hour one-way where the Marseillaises will gradually retreat and suffer more and more the game Herault. Aware of the situation, Christophe made changes to play the draw and shoot-out starting with the entry Pauline Cousin replacing Sandrine Bretigny (73).

A few minutes later, Leonie Multari is hit by Pauline Peyraud-Magnin on an aerial exit of the Marseille goalkeeper. Stoned Leonie Multari, will stay a long time on the ground before being taken care of by the healers. While OM is reduced to ten, Sandie Toletti advances to the 20-meter ball and sends a strike which she has the secret.

We believe in the goal but the ball hits the right post before fleeing the frame (77th). Multari returns to the field but must leave a few minutes later at the request of the referee. It is Lalia Dali-Storti who replaces (83) after the entrance a few minutes earlier than Tess Laplacette instead of Charlotte Lozé (78).

Janyce Cayman rather than shoot-offs
Marseille in defense, and seems to hold despite the attempts of Janyce Cayman (80th) and Stina Blackstenius (90th). In the 93rd minute, Sandie Toletti had a first match point on a free-kick at the edge of the left-side area. She sends the ball back to the right post of goal Marseille. At the end of the match, Marseille cracks finally, with Janyce Cayman found in the box in the back of the defense. The Belgian and Neo-Montpellier striker scored a goal that seals the victory of the Héraultaises (97th).

A victory for Montpellier, logical but inevitably cruel for the OM which showed again the progress of its collective, but which could hold the comparison only the space of a half-time before seeing Montpellier gradually take the 'ascending. The two teams are now preparing for the rest of the championship with important matches on both sides, with the reception of Rodez for OM, and that of PSG for Montpellier.