Paris Saint-Germain won the Coupe Gambardella by defeating Montpellier 3-2 on Friday at the Stade de France. This victory ends a long wait for the Parisian club, which hadn't won the competition since 1991. Reduced to ten men during the match, PSG still managed to secure the win in stoppage time. The Parisian U19 team thus claims the club's second Coupe Gambardella title, after five previous final appearances.
Mathis Jangeal decisive in the Parisian victory
The key player in PSG's victory was Mathis Jangeal. The 18-year-old striker, who had already featured for the first team, was involved in all three of his team's goals. Scoring twice, he also provided an assist. His attacking influence allowed PSG to prevail in a tight final against a tenacious Montpellier side.
A victory achieved despite being outnumbered.
PSG had to finish the match with ten men, but this numerical disadvantage didn't stop the young Parisians from continuing to attack. During a tense finale, they found the necessary resources to score the decisive goal in stoppage time. This victory demonstrated the mental strength of a group capable of remaining dangerous even in adverse circumstances.
Montpellier once again fails in the final
Montpellier lost 3-2 and missed the chance to win a fourth Coupe Gambardella. The club from the Hérault region was playing in another final in this competition, but couldn't turn the match around. Despite scoring two goals, Montpellier was outclassed by Paris Saint-Germain's clinical finishing in key moments.
An impressive attacking run by PSG
PSG enjoyed a highly productive run in this edition. The young Parisians scored 31 goals in 7 matches, an average of 4,4 goals per game. Before this final, they had notably impressed with a resounding 8-0 victory against Chartres in the sixth round, followed by a 5-0 win against Le Mans in the round of 32.
A significant success for the Parisian team
This title recognizes the quality of the youth development program at the club. The U19 team is coached by Thomas Leysalles, 41, who has been involved with PSG's youth teams for ten years. The Gambardella Cup victory confirms the quality of this Parisian generation and gives particular emphasis to the club's youth development project: 35 years after its first triumph, PSG has finally returned to the top in this prestigious national competition for young players.
