No final for Paris Saint Germain’s U17s

The starting eleven

Nkounkou - Zague (Mukelenge, 74’), Doucouré (c), Adonis, Cordier - Et. Michut (Bensoula, 67’), E. Mbappé - Diawara (N. El Hannach, 46’), Tchicamboud, Etonde - Housni. Coach: Stéphane Moreau.

The way it played out

The young Parisians, who finished top of Group A with 58 points from their 26 matches (18 wins, 4 draws, 4 defeats) and then beat Nantes (3-2) in the quarter-finals, were in action in Corsica against TéFéCé, who themselves had topped Group E with 65 points (21 wins, 2 draws and 3 defeats) before beating Lille (1-1, 9-8 on penalties).

After a slow start to the match where both sides tried to get the measure of the opposition, it was Les Rouge et Bleu who created the first chances of the encounter. After a one-two with Ilyes Housni on the right, Yoram Zague saw his strike from six metres out pushed away by Naime Ben Zayer Said Mchindra’s foot (14’), before Queyrell Tchicamboud headed onto the post (23’). Toulouse reacted in the minutes that followed, but Amadou Camara was denied by Desthy Nkounkou (27’). Les Pitchouns took advantage of their period of domination to take the lead.  After a smart piece of control, Noah Edjouma, with his back to goal, managed to turn and shoot, finding the back of the net from 6 metres out  (1-0, 31’). Camara then took advantage of a moment of doubt in the Paris half and buried into the bottom corner of the net (2-0, 33’). Nkounkou thought he had kept his side in the game when he got in through on goal and beat Edjouma (44’), but just before the break, Elyess Dao found the back of the net from the edge of the box (3-0, 45’+1).

The club from the capital needed to react in the second half, and Zague broke down the right and found Tchicamboud at the back post for an easy finish (3-1, 46’). The hopes of a turnaround were quickly spoiled as Mathis Saka smashed the ball into the back of the Paris net from 25 metres out (4-1, 64’). Despite chances for Mechack Niombo Vanangina (57’) and Dao (59’) for Toulouse and Housni (62’, 67 ‘) and Tchicamboud (90’) for Paris, the score remained as it was. 

NEXT UP

The Paris Saint-Germain U17s bring their excellent season to a close in Borgo, and will be back in action next season. Toulouse will now be involved in the final on Saturday 4 June at Saint-Quentin, in Aisne, against the winner of AC Ajaccio and Olympique Lyonnais.