A goal from Farès Chaïbi scored in the 85th minute allowed Toulouse to snatch their qualification for the final of the Coupe de France after their victory over Annecy (2-1), Thursday at the Parc des Sports. The Toulousains, who had been released in this same enclosure in 2021 when they were playing in Ligue 2 by Rumilly-Vallières (N2, 4th div.) in the quarter-finals, will face, on April 29 at the Stade de France, Nantes who have eliminated Lyon, Wednesday (1-0). This match will also have a taste of revenge for the TFC which had lost, in 2021, in the Ligue 1 accession play-offs against the FCN then 18th in Ligue 1 and led by its former coach, Antoine Kombouaré.
Entering the game in the 64th minute in place of Rafael Ratao, Chaïbi took advantage of a bad back pass from the head of Arnold Temanfo to restore the advantage to the TFC (2-1). The Toulouse had opened the scoring by Zakaria Aboukhal who took over with a header at the near post a center delivered from the right wing by Branco Van den Boomen (36). But Annecy equalized on a penalty converted by Alexis Bosseti after a foul committed on himself by Gabriel Suazo in additional time of the first period (45 + 2).
Shy start
After a timid start, the two teams playing in a sold-out stadium (14,000 spectators), proved to be dangerous in turn. The FCA on an action by Bosseti concluded with a save by goalkeeper Christian Haug in front of Steve Shamal (1-) before the latter diverted a free kick from Yohan Demancy (20). The Annecy goalkeeper, Thomas Callens intervened well on a resumption of the head of Logan Costa by a reflex stop at the reception of a corner (27).
During a rather mediocre second half dominated by Annecy, the Toulouse goalkeeper, Haug intervened on an attempt by Shamal (48) before a cross from Gaby Jean passed in front of the TFC goal without anyone being able to resume (68). For its part, Toulouse was close to regaining the advantage on a header from Rasmus Nicolaisen hitting the bar after a free kick played by Van den Boomen (73) before Chaïbi’s goal.
Second final for the TFC
However, Annecy did believe it was entitled to another penalty shootout after the three that allowed it to reach the semi-final for the first time in its history, but the magnificent goal of Moïse Sahi, who found the skylight, was canceled for offside (90). Toulouse, 13th in Ligue 1 and which remained on three defeats over the last four days of the championship, joined the final of the Coupe de France for the second time in its history after winning the event in 1957 (victory over Angers 6-3 ).
The TFC then failed three times in the semi-finals in 1966, 1985 and 2009. For the Haute-Savoie team, it will be necessary to overcome the disappointment of a narrowly conceded elimination. 15th in Ligue 2 with only two points ahead of the relegation zone, the FCA which remains on a rout in Nîmes (4-0), must now ensure its maintenance, a year after its accession to Ligue 2.