It was a first, that a third division club reached the semi-finals of the Coupe de France, and Hénin-Beaumont had perhaps already experienced his "final" by eliminating Soyaux in the previous round. Faced with OL, difficult to imagine going further and the Nords finally lost 10 to 0 in the presence of a large audience on the occasion of this extended weekend.


Festive Sunday in the North, on the occasion of the arrival of Olympique Lyonnais in the Pas-de-Calais for these semi-finals of the Coupe de France. A prestigious opponent that the Henin-Beaumont club met regularly not so long ago.


To look upward


A last relegation that goes back to the 2013-2014 season, after which the players of Henin descend into second division before experiencing a new fall to the lower level, precipitated by the reform of the D2. At the last reception of OL, Justine Rougemont and current captain Gwenaëlle Devleesschauwer were already in the game.


This season Hénin-Beaumont is looking up again. In a good position to reach the D2 roadblocks, the Nordists could find this championship, a year after leaving it. Today is the main goal of the club, which has also taken the time to enjoy these rounds in the Cup.


Because his achievement, Henin-Beaumont had already in his pocket, his quarter-final won already at home against Soyaux, with this goal of Camille Lewandowski scored from the first seconds of play and that was enough to validate the ticket for the halves. With Lyon, the players of Interregional knew that the feat would be out of reach. Even if each match knows its share of uncertainty, the scenario of this match seemed written especially as Gérard Prêcheur had decided to align one of his best possible.


A composition close to that which can be found in the Champions League, with the incorporation of Jennifer Henning in defense and Kheira Hamraoui, midfield. The northern player, back in her native region and facing a club where she had evolved almost ten years ago. Aligned in 3-5-2, the Lyon players started with the duo Le Sommer-Morgan in attack, while Ada Hegerberg started on the bench.


Hold, but how long?


On the side of Hénin-Beaumont, it is a 5-4-1 team that has been aligned by Alain Delory, currently in charge of the team during the convalescence of Claude Rioust, the coach of Henin and he is deputy. In the first minutes, Lyon moved into the opposite camp, and the first center in the area arrives from the second minute by Amel Majri. Lyon at the maneuver but Hénin-Beaumont manages to cross the median line twice, by Marion Gosse and Camille Lewandowski.


Intentions that arouse the encouragement of many people come to attend this match, curious about the ability of their team to resist against Lyon. The first goal of the OL arrives however in the 9th minute. It is Eugénie Le Sommer who is found in the back of the defense, and in the surface, she deceives Clara Degor on a stung balloon.


Beaten on this action, the young goalkeeper Henin will postpone several times the deadline as on this cover of Camille Abily in the surface (17th) following a good center Alex Morgan left side. Hénin-Beaumont players faced with a dilemma, between a desire to move forward to the dry cleaners, and at the same time the fear of being caught in the back of the defense on calls from Lyon strikers.


And when they recoil, they are still obliged to bow. Covered by Aurélie Piosek on the left, Alex Morgan is served in the depth, and can then serve Eugénie Le Sommer who scored his second goal (19th). Moments later, Alex Morgan quickly added a third (20th).


Clara Degor, solid despite the goals


The amounts delay a time the deadline with this center-shot of Amel Majri on the bar (22nd) or this cover of Alex Morgan (24th) who hits the left post of the goal northerner. Henin resists somehow, but every ball in the depth is a danger. It is sometimes an offside, a Clara Degor exit or the return of a defender who preserves the score, but in the 28th minute, Jessica Houara is served ideally by Dzsenifer Marozsan and can then place a center right side to six meters from Henin. At the back post, Amel Majri arrives and sends the ball to the back of the net.


Lyon stopped there for the first act, but Hénin-Beaumont could have scored a goal before the break. Aurélie Piosek is served on the left and is alone with Méline Gérard. The goalkeeper from Lyon who manages to impede Piosek in the area and prevent him from hitting the goal, with a ball that finally fails goal (33).At the break, both teams make changes. Ada Hegerberg and Elodie Thomis replace Eugénie Le Sommer and Jessica Houara, while Héloïse Hurtrel enters in the lead in place of Camille Lewandowski. The two Lyon substitutes who are quickly illustrating themselves. Elodie Thomis multiplies the acceleration in the right lane, but in the 50th minute serves Alex Morgan, right side and the American striker then handed to Ada Hegerberg for the fifth goal Lyon.


Inputs to mark


Moments later, Alex Morgan scored two new goals for OL. First at the 55th minute, where she takes a center of Elodie Thomis from the right, his recovery striking the left post before going to the back of the net. At the 58th minute, she finds herself alone against Clara Degor and wins her face to face with the keeper of Henin. The American striker who will score her fourth goal of the afternoon in the 62nd minute, with a stung balloon lobe Clara Degor following a service Kheira Hamraoui.


Hénin who draws and Alain Rodely who makes new changes with the entries of Soraya Desmons and Claire Poisson, and try to bring freshness to his team. Henin on the tightrope, it's also an opportunity for her guardian to shine. Clara Degor who makes a decisive exit at the entrance of the six meters in the feet of Camille Abily (69th).


But moments later, Abily is the initiative of the ninth goal of the OL. A deep balloon found Amel Majri on the left, who put in a touch to Ada Hegerberg who then managed to finish with a volley (72 '). Ada Hegerberg scores again in the 75th on a new center of Elodie Thomis right side.


Sixth final in a row for OL


An end of the match where the goals follow the rescues in disaster of the northern defense. Moments earlier, Justine Dufour had taken a goal ball to Amel Majri at the entrance of her six meters. In the 79th minute Clara Degor wins her face-off with Alex Morgan who was alone in the other 16 meters. An end to the match where we feel that it must stop for the players of Henin, who can no longer move forward and enjoy the few balls they manage to recover in the middle .


For Lyon, the match ends with a series of missed opportunities, with Clara Degor on the parade or relieved by her defense in the image of this tackle by Justine Mellin on her line to prevent Alex Morgan from scoring a fifth goal in this match. It is also due to a certain awkwardness, Lyonnaises perhaps already satiated and who sometimes fished at the finish, which also caused a small anger of Gerard Prêcheur.


At the final whistle, the Octave-Birembaut stadium applauds the courage of Hénin-Beaumont's players, who have come to the end of this match, which sounds like a reward before the time for the good race this season. A gala match, before deadlines more decisive for Henin, and the race for the D2 will resume quickly.


For Lyon, the years are following and are similar with a new final Coupe de France. OL will be aiming for a ninth trophy, and a possible sixth double-championship cup in a row. A new consecration that Lyon will play on May 20 in Vannes against Paris Saint-Germain.


photo: Baziz Chibane