Coupe de France: without trembling or laughing, the MHSC qualified for the 16th round by beating Amiens, and a little bit thanks to a visit to the cathedral

Jordan Ferri, captain in the absence of Téji Savanier, and Montpellier managed their match, without being really worried. MAXPPP – CRUZ

Professionally, the MHSC qualified for the round of 16 of the Coupe de France by winning in Amiens (1-2), Saturday January 6, notably after Yeboah's very first goal.

In the land of the Unicorn, Montpellier has kept his dream alive. It’s not yet the Stade de France and the final on May 25. But by dominating Amiens (L2) at the trade, he overcame the obstacle and successfully entered the running, in the 32nd finals.

Without shining but without trembling either. With the qualification, while its workforce was decimated, it is good news which is enough in itself to start the year 2024.

Also read: "There is only qualifying that counts", "four matches before the Stade de France" : reactions after the MHSC victory in the Coupe de France

Where they had foundered just a year ago in Pau (L2, 2-1), Michel Der Zakarian's men at least forced their destiny rather than suffering it. "Qualifying is what counts, that’s all that matters", summed up the pailladin coach at the end of the match.

The visitor to Amiens Cathedral paid

A few hours earlier, he and his staff had improvised a visit to the cathedral of Amiens, invited by Father François, a native of Hérault and a fan of pailladin. We don't know if we should see a link there but the football gods helped the Montpellier residents with a first gag goal: a billiard shot initiated by Khazri, launched by Hefti, which the unfortunate Assogba scored. cleared on his own post, obviously coming in (42nd).

Also read: Coupe de France: Montpellier wins in Amiens with seriousness and qualifies for the round of 16

The MHSC was chasing a first goal in the game since October 29 and eight games. Just before the break, this end of shortage allowed the partners of Ferri, captain in the absence of the suspended Savanier, to manage their business a little better.

Amiens wanted to take Montpellier at its own game

With ten absent, with Akor Adams injured in the back and left on a bench of barely adult substitutes (20 years average age), the scenario was ideal. Even more so against the athletic Amiens who neither the cold nor the drizzle had moved, like the Englishman Andy Carroll, who arrived at the stadium in a t-shirt.

The ex Liverpool and his teammates had a well-defined plan: take Montpellier to its own transition game. It worked in sequences, the MHSC helping it with waste.

Ferri and Omeragic were the best Montpellier residents. FREE NOON

"I’I would have liked that we were much better technically, that we had better tactical mastery, we lacked mobility, movement", breathed Der Zak. However, apart from a scare on a cross-shot from Mafouta (16th) then the reduction of the score, on which Lecomte and Jullien telescoped to let Mafouta adjust his header (58th), the ASC only had little makes the Héraultais tremble.

Yeboah first, promising Hefti

Again positioned in their system with five defenders, with Coulibaly left piston and the rookie Hefti on the opposite side, they took the opportunity to make the break by Yeboah, started for the first time .

Also read: Coupe de France: "My teammates told me that I was going to score", Yeboah savors his first goal with the MHSC

S’he did not improve his credit most of the time, unlike a promising Swiss reinforcement who had offered him a goal on a plateau (27th), the’ ;rsquo;Italo-Ghanaian ended up unlocking his counter.

Unbalanced by Boya (55th), the player on loan from Genoa threw himself on the ball and sheltered his team by transforming his penalty into force, full axis. Simple but effective, like the MHSC in Picardy. While waiting for better.

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