As a prelude to tonight’s Coupe de France final, the Stade de France saw Monaco fend off Clermont 4-2 in the Gambardella (French Youth Cup) final to lift the trophy for the fifth time in their history.
Clermont had opened the scoring after fifteen minutes through Robin Pages from a corner, before a quick-fire double from the Principality outfit – first Mayssam Benama, then Joan Tincres – put them in front within ten minutes.
Benama would miss a penalty before the end of the half, but attacking midfielder Saïmon Bouabré added a third on the hour mark. The latter was arguably Monaco’s standout performer, the 16-year-old showing an impressive ease on the ball and assisting his team’s second.
Their opponents would soon get back into the game though, as Colas Chastang cut the deficit to set up an end-to-end final half hour. Eventually, the Monégasques would wrap up the game – and their first title since the Kylian Mbappé-led class of 2016 – through Pape Cabral, and succeed last year’s winners, Lyon.
