2011 Coupe de la Ligue Final
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Coupe de la Ligue Final was the 17th final of France's football league cup competition, the Coupe de la Ligue
, a football competition for the 44 teams that the Ligue de Football Professionnel
manages. The final took place on 23 April 2011 at the Stade de France
in Saint-Denis
and was contested between Marseille
and Montpellier
. Marseille were the defending champions
of the competition and was the fourth club in the competition's history to appear in the final match in back-to-back seasons. The winner is guaranteed a UEFA Europa League place for the 2011–12 season with their appearance being dependent on whether they qualify for the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League
. The final and both semi-finals were be broadcast live on France 2
.
Marseille successfully defended its title after defeating Montpellier 1–0 courtesy of a second half goal from Taye Taiwo. The title resulted in Marseille becoming the first club in Coupe de la Ligue history to repeat as champions. For the first time in the competition's history, an official Best Player
award was given out following the match. The award is sponsored by l'Institut de Cerveau et de la Moelle Epinière (Institute for Brain and Spinal Cord Disorders) and its inaugural winner was the lone goal-scorer Taye Taiwo. The award was presented to the player by France national team
manager Laurent Blanc
, who serves as an ambassador for the institute.
On 24 April, the Ligue de Football Professionnel announced that it was investigating the Best Player award winner for his actions following the match. The Nigeria
n defender reportedly made provocative and offensive remarks about the club's Le Classique
rivals Paris Saint-Germain while celebrating with Marseille supporters. After being condemned for his actions by Marseille's management and its staff and players, Taiwo issued an apology on the club's official website.
and the UEFA Europa League. The announcement made the competition the first national cup competition in Europe to adopt the system and was approved by the International Football Association Board
(IFAB) on 21 July. The system officially began on 24 August with the start of the second round matches and was in place until the final.
having defeated Bordeaux
3–1 in last year's final
and were the fourth club in the competition's history to appear in the final match in back-to-back seasons. Montpellier made its debut in the ultimate match of the Coupe de la Ligue. The club's last major finals appearance in a cup competition was in the 1993–94 season when it reached the final of the Coupe de France. In 1992, Montpellier won the Coupe d'été (Summer Cup). The competition was not recognized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel
and abolished in 1994, however, the Coupe de la Ligue took a heavy influence from the competition. On 26 January 2011, the defending champions Marseille were designated as the home team for the match. A week before the Coupe de la Ligue Final was to take place, Marseille and Montpellier faced each other in a league match. Marseille defeated hosts Montpellier 2–1 in the match, despite the home team taking a 1–0 lead late in the second half.
since 1998, following the stadium's completion. The stadium has a capacity of 81,338 spectators. Each club that participated in the final received the same quota of tickets, which were distributed to season ticket holders and through each club's ticket sales at a later date. Tickets went on sale to the general public in the third week of March 2011, a month before the final. Pricing was defined by category with Category 1 seats, the highest category, being priced at €90 and Category 4, the lowest, going for €45. The Category 4 seats were primarily reserved for each club's supporters.
on 11 September 2010. He refereed his first league cup final and was assisted by Mickaël Annonier of Atlantique
and Nicolas Pottier of Maine
. Saïd Ennjimi
of Centre-Ouest
serve as the fourth official.
, the defending champions Marseille entered the competition in the Round of 16 for the fourth consecutive season. The club began the defence of its title away to Championnat National
club Guingamp at the Stade du Roudourou
. Marseille recorded a 1–0 victory over the Bretons thanks to a first half goal from the Ghana
ian André Ayew
. Marseille faced first division foes Monaco
in the quarterfinals. In the match, which was played at the Stade Vélodrome
, Monaco took the lead midway through the first half after midfielder
Mathieu Coutadeur
converted a penalty
. Just before half-time, Ayew equalized scoring his second goal of the competition. In the second half, Spanish defender César Azpilicueta
netted the game-winner to give Marseille a 2–1 victory. In the semi-finals, Les Phocéens were pitted against fellow UEFA Champions League
participants Auxerre
. A first half injury time goal from Brandão was enough to hold off Auxerre. Marseille later added a second half goal from André-Pierre Gignac
to assured the club a 2–0 victory. The semi-final win resulted in Marseille becoming the fourth club in the competition's history to appear in the final match in back-to-back seasons.
against second division
club Ajaccio
. Goals from the Turk
Hasan Kabze
and club youth product Bangali-Fodé Koita
was enough to secure Montpellier a 2–0 shutout win. In the quarterfinals, Montpellier, for the second straight round, played at home and faced a tough test against Lille
. Similar to the previous match, Kabze opened the scoring in the first half. The Turkish international
later added another goal in the 52nd minute to give Montpellier a 2–0 lead. Lille drew one goal closer following a strike from Eden Hazard
in the 67th minute. Despite constant pressure from Lille, the hosts were able to hold onto its 2–1 advantage to progress to the semi-finals where they faced the defending Coupe de France champions
Paris Saint-Germain. After 90 minutes, both club's were goalless, which resulted in the match going into extra time. Two minutes from time, Montpellier striker
Olivier Giroud
netted the game-winning goal to give Montpellier's its first appearance in a final match since the 1994 edition of the Coupe de France.
rope, 18 giant balloons that represented the previous Coupe de la Ligue finals as well as the current one, and the Coupe de la Ligue trophy. During the introduction and warm-up of the teams, players wore tee shirts showing support for France Télévisions
journalists Hervé Ghesquière and Stéphane Taponier, as well as their three companions. The journalists were kidnapped on 29 December 2009 while working in Afghanistan
doing a piece for the Pièces à Conviction
magazine and have yet to be released. The shirts displayed the pictures of the two journalists, as well as the statements "Libérez les otages!" (Free the hostages!) and "Freedom".
The opening kick-off was done by French triple jump
er Teddy Tamgho
. Tamgho, who set two world indoor records at the 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships
, was the third athlete in the competition's final history to kick-off the final of the Coupe de la Ligue. 1992
and 1996
Olympic
gold medalist Marie-José Pérec
and 2002 European and 2003 World Championships
gold medalist Muriel Hurtis-Houairi were the previous two.
Loïc Rémy
due to suspension. Rémy was given a straight red card
in the team's league match on 17 April, ironically, against Montpellier after getting into a physical altercation with defender Abdel El Kaoutari
. Aside from Rémy, Marseille was also without starting right back César Azpilicueta
who is currently rehabbing a torn anterior cruciate ligament
in his left knee; an injury he suffered in November 2010.
Montpellier entered the match without two players due to suspension. Bosnian international
Emir Spahić
and French youth international
El Kaoutari. El Kaoutari missed the final due to his previously mentioned altercation with Loïc Rémy. Due to previously being given a yellow card in the match, the defender was given a second yellow card for the confrontation with the Marseille striker. Montpellier was also without French youth international Karim Aït-Fana
due to injury.
style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align=center>
MONTPELLIER:
|
GK
1
Laurent Pionnier
RB
2
Garry Bocaly
CB
3
Mapou Yanga-M'Biwa
CB
22
Benjamin Stambouli
LB
27
Cyril Jeunechamp
CM
6
Joris Marveaux
CM
14
Romain Pitau
(c)
RM
29
Younès Belhanda
LM
23
Jamel Saihi
FW
17
Olivier Giroud
FW
19
Souleymane Camara
Substitutes:
GK
16
Geoffrey Jourdren
DF
25
Xavier Collin
DF
31
Teddy Mézague
MF
12
Geoffrey Dernis
MF
13
Marco Estrada
FW
11
Hasan Kabze
FW
24
Bangali-Fodé Koita
Manager:
René Girard
Coupe de la Ligue
The Coupe de la Ligue , known outside of France as the French League Cup, is a knockout cup competition in French football organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel...
, a football competition for the 44 teams that the Ligue de Football Professionnel
Ligue de Football Professionnel
The Ligue de Football Professionnel , commonly known as the LFP, is a French governing body that runs the major professional football leagues in France. It was founded in 1944 and serves under the authority of the French Football Federation...
manages. The final took place on 23 April 2011 at the Stade de France
Stade de France
The Stade de France is the national stadium of France, situated just north of Paris in the commune of Saint-Denis. It has an all-seater capacity of 80,000, making it the fifth largest stadium in Europe, and is used by both the France national football team and French rugby union team for...
in Saint-Denis
Saint-Denis
Saint-Denis is a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. Saint-Denis is a sous-préfecture of the Seine-Saint-Denis département, being the seat of the Arrondissement of Saint-Denis....
and was contested between Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
and Montpellier
Montpellier HSC
Montpellier Hérault Sport Club is a French association football club based in the city of Montpellier. The club was founded in 1919 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Montpellier plays its home matches at the Stade de la Mosson, located within the city...
. Marseille were the defending champions
2010 Coupe de la Ligue Final
The 2010 Coupe de la Ligue Final was the 16th final of France's football league cup competition, the Coupe de la Ligue, a football competition for the 46 teams that the Ligue de Football Professionnel manages. The final took place on 27 March 2010 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis...
of the competition and was the fourth club in the competition's history to appear in the final match in back-to-back seasons. The winner is guaranteed a UEFA Europa League place for the 2011–12 season with their appearance being dependent on whether they qualify for the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League
2011–12 UEFA Champions League
The 2011–12 UEFA Champions League is the 57th season of the European Cup, Europe's premier football tournament, and the 20th season in its current Champions League format. The final venue will be the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany...
. The final and both semi-finals were be broadcast live on France 2
France 2
France 2 is a French public national television channel. It is part of the state-owned France Télévisions group, along with France 3, France 4, France 5 and France Ô...
.
Marseille successfully defended its title after defeating Montpellier 1–0 courtesy of a second half goal from Taye Taiwo. The title resulted in Marseille becoming the first club in Coupe de la Ligue history to repeat as champions. For the first time in the competition's history, an official Best Player
Man of the match
In sport, a Man of the Match or Player of the Game or Man of the Series award is given to the outstanding player, almost always the one who makes the most impact, in a particular match or series. The term was originally used more often in cricket before being adopted by other sports. This can be a...
award was given out following the match. The award is sponsored by l'Institut de Cerveau et de la Moelle Epinière (Institute for Brain and Spinal Cord Disorders) and its inaugural winner was the lone goal-scorer Taye Taiwo. The award was presented to the player by France national team
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
manager Laurent Blanc
Laurent Blanc
Laurent Robert Blanc is a French association football manager and former player. He is the head coach of the French national team, having replaced Raymond Domenech in the wake of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He was previously the manager of Bordeaux...
, who serves as an ambassador for the institute.
On 24 April, the Ligue de Football Professionnel announced that it was investigating the Best Player award winner for his actions following the match. The Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n defender reportedly made provocative and offensive remarks about the club's Le Classique
Le Classique
Le Classique , also known as Derby de France, is a football match contested between French top-flight clubs Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille. The term "Le Classique" is modeled on the El Clásico, contested between Real Madrid and Barcelona. These meetings became important during the...
rivals Paris Saint-Germain while celebrating with Marseille supporters. After being condemned for his actions by Marseille's management and its staff and players, Taiwo issued an apology on the club's official website.
Five referee system for cup
On 20 August 2010, the Ligue de Football Professionnel confirmed that the Coupe de la Ligue would utilized the five-referee system that is currently being used in the UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
and the UEFA Europa League. The announcement made the competition the first national cup competition in Europe to adopt the system and was approved by the International Football Association Board
International Football Association Board
The International Football Association Board is the body that determines the Laws of the Game of association football.-Operations:...
(IFAB) on 21 July. The system officially began on 24 August with the start of the second round matches and was in place until the final.
Team backgrounds
Marseille made its second appearance in the final of the Coupe de la Ligue. The club was the competition's defending champions2010 Coupe de la Ligue Final
The 2010 Coupe de la Ligue Final was the 16th final of France's football league cup competition, the Coupe de la Ligue, a football competition for the 46 teams that the Ligue de Football Professionnel manages. The final took place on 27 March 2010 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis...
having defeated Bordeaux
FC Girondins de Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
3–1 in last year's final
2010 Coupe de la Ligue Final
The 2010 Coupe de la Ligue Final was the 16th final of France's football league cup competition, the Coupe de la Ligue, a football competition for the 46 teams that the Ligue de Football Professionnel manages. The final took place on 27 March 2010 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis...
and were the fourth club in the competition's history to appear in the final match in back-to-back seasons. Montpellier made its debut in the ultimate match of the Coupe de la Ligue. The club's last major finals appearance in a cup competition was in the 1993–94 season when it reached the final of the Coupe de France. In 1992, Montpellier won the Coupe d'été (Summer Cup). The competition was not recognized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel
Ligue de Football Professionnel
The Ligue de Football Professionnel , commonly known as the LFP, is a French governing body that runs the major professional football leagues in France. It was founded in 1944 and serves under the authority of the French Football Federation...
and abolished in 1994, however, the Coupe de la Ligue took a heavy influence from the competition. On 26 January 2011, the defending champions Marseille were designated as the home team for the match. A week before the Coupe de la Ligue Final was to take place, Marseille and Montpellier faced each other in a league match. Marseille defeated hosts Montpellier 2–1 in the match, despite the home team taking a 1–0 lead late in the second half.
Ticketing
The Coupe de la Ligue final has been played every year at the Stade de FranceStade de France
The Stade de France is the national stadium of France, situated just north of Paris in the commune of Saint-Denis. It has an all-seater capacity of 80,000, making it the fifth largest stadium in Europe, and is used by both the France national football team and French rugby union team for...
since 1998, following the stadium's completion. The stadium has a capacity of 81,338 spectators. Each club that participated in the final received the same quota of tickets, which were distributed to season ticket holders and through each club's ticket sales at a later date. Tickets went on sale to the general public in the third week of March 2011, a month before the final. Pricing was defined by category with Category 1 seats, the highest category, being priced at €90 and Category 4, the lowest, going for €45. The Category 4 seats were primarily reserved for each club's supporters.
Officials
On 7 April, the Ligue de Football Professionnel announced that referee Antony Gautier of Nord-Pas-de-Calais would officiate the 2011 Coupe de la Ligue final. Gautier officiated only one match involving either of the two teams this season; a 2–1 home loss for Montpellier against NancyAS Nancy
Association Sportive Nancy-Lorraine is a French association football club based in Nancy. The club was founded in 1967 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Nancy plays its home matches at the Stade Marcel Picot in Tomblaine, a commune located in the Arrondissement of...
on 11 September 2010. He refereed his first league cup final and was assisted by Mickaël Annonier of Atlantique
Pays de la Loire
Pays de la Loire is one of the 27 regions of France. It is one of the regions created in the late 20th century to serve as a zone of influence for its capital, Nantes, one of a handful so-called "balancing metropolises" ¹...
and Nicolas Pottier of Maine
Pays de la Loire
Pays de la Loire is one of the 27 regions of France. It is one of the regions created in the late 20th century to serve as a zone of influence for its capital, Nantes, one of a handful so-called "balancing metropolises" ¹...
. Saïd Ennjimi
Saïd Ennjimi
Saïd Ennjimi is a French-Moroccan football referee. He is registered as a Fédéral 1 referee in France meaning he is eligible to officiate Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches, as well as matches in the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue....
of Centre-Ouest
Poitou-Charentes
Poitou-Charentes is an administrative region in central western France comprising four departments: Charente, Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres and Vienne. The regional capital is Poitiers.-Politics:The regional council is composed of 56 members...
serve as the fourth official.
Road to the final
| Marseille | Round | Montpellier | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | H/A | Result | 2010–11 Coupe de la Ligue 2010–11 Coupe de la Ligue The 2010–11 Coupe de la Ligue was the 17th edition of the French league cup competition. The defending champions were Marseille, who defeated Bordeaux 3–1 in the 2009–10 edition of the final. The competition was organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel and was open to the forty-four... |
Opponent | H/A | Result |
| Guingamp | A | 1–0 | Round of 16 | Ajaccio AC Ajaccio Athletic Club Ajaccio is a French association football club based in the city of Ajaccio on the island of Corsica. The club was founded in 1910 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, having finished 2nd in the 2010–11 campaign in Ligue 2. The club president is Alain... |
H | 2–0 |
| Monaco AS Monaco FC Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille... |
H | 2–1 | Quarterfinals | Lille Lille OSC LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the... |
H | 2–1 |
| Auxerre AJ Auxerre Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise is a French association football club based in the commune of Auxerre in Burgundy. The club was founded in 1905 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Auxerre plays its home matches at the Stade l'Abbé-Deschamps on the banks of the... |
A | 2–0 | Semi-finals | Paris SG | H | 1–0 (a.e.t.) |
Marseille
Due to participating in European competitionUEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
, the defending champions Marseille entered the competition in the Round of 16 for the fourth consecutive season. The club began the defence of its title away to Championnat National
Championnat National
The Championnat de France National, commonly referred to as simply National or Division 3, serves as the third division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1 and Ligue 2...
club Guingamp at the Stade du Roudourou
Stade du Roudourou
Stade du Roudourou is a stadium in Guingamp, France that is the home ground of French League 2 side En Avant Guingamp. The stadium is able to hold 18,040 people....
. Marseille recorded a 1–0 victory over the Bretons thanks to a first half goal from the Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
ian André Ayew
André Ayew
André Morgan Rami Ayew is a Ghanaian football player who currently plays for French club Marseille in Ligue 1. He is often referred to as simply Dédé. Ayew plays as a winger, but can play as a striker...
. Marseille faced first division foes Monaco
AS Monaco FC
Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille...
in the quarterfinals. In the match, which was played at the Stade Vélodrome
Stade Vélodrome
The Stade Vélodrome is a football stadium in Marseille, France. It is home to the Olympique de Marseille football club of Ligue 1, and was a venue in the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the 2007 Rugby World Cup. It is the largest club-football ground in France, with a capacity of 60,031 spectators,...
, Monaco took the lead midway through the first half after midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
Mathieu Coutadeur
Mathieu Coutadeur
Mathieu Coutadeur is a French midfielder currently playing for Lorient. He is a centre midfielder known for his passing.-Club career:...
converted a penalty
Penalty shot
A penalty shot is a play used in several sports whereby a goal is attempted during stop-time. Penalty shots are sometimes grouped into the larger penalty shootout used to decide games in several sports.-Ice hockey:...
. Just before half-time, Ayew equalized scoring his second goal of the competition. In the second half, Spanish defender César Azpilicueta
César Azpilicueta
César Azpilicueta Tanco is a Spanish footballer who plays for Olympique de Marseille in France, as a right defender.-Club career:...
netted the game-winner to give Marseille a 2–1 victory. In the semi-finals, Les Phocéens were pitted against fellow UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
participants Auxerre
AJ Auxerre
Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise is a French association football club based in the commune of Auxerre in Burgundy. The club was founded in 1905 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Auxerre plays its home matches at the Stade l'Abbé-Deschamps on the banks of the...
. A first half injury time goal from Brandão was enough to hold off Auxerre. Marseille later added a second half goal from André-Pierre Gignac
André-Pierre Gignac
André-Pierre Gignac is a French professional football player who currently plays for French club Marseille in Ligue 1. He primarily plays as a striker whose influence can extend out to the wings. Gignac is described as a "powerful and dangerous" striker who is known for his "aerial presence"...
to assured the club a 2–0 victory. The semi-final win resulted in Marseille becoming the fourth club in the competition's history to appear in the final match in back-to-back seasons.
Montpellier
Similar to Marseille, Montpellier began the competition in the Round of 16 due to the club's participation in the UEFA Europa League, though the club was eliminated from Europe months before its first match in the Coupe de la Ligue. Montpellier opened up the competition at home at the Stade de la MossonStade de la Mosson
Stade de la Mosson is a football stadium in Montpellier, France. It is the home of Montpellier HSC and has a capacity of 32,900. Formerly a 16,000-seater stadium, it was entirely rebuilt in 1998 to host 6 games of the 1998 FIFA World Cup. It was also used as a venue for group stage matches in the...
against second division
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
club Ajaccio
AC Ajaccio
Athletic Club Ajaccio is a French association football club based in the city of Ajaccio on the island of Corsica. The club was founded in 1910 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, having finished 2nd in the 2010–11 campaign in Ligue 2. The club president is Alain...
. Goals from the Turk
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
Hasan Kabze
Hasan Kabze
Hasan Salih Kabze is a Turkish international footballer. He currently plays as a striker for Montpellier HSC. Formerly, he played for Bucaspor, Çanakkale Dardanelspor, Galatasaray SK and Rubin Kazan.-Galatasaray:...
and club youth product Bangali-Fodé Koita
Bangali-Fodé Koita
Bangali-Fodé Koita is a French professional football player of Guinean origin. Currently, he plays in the Ligue 1 for Montpellier HSC....
was enough to secure Montpellier a 2–0 shutout win. In the quarterfinals, Montpellier, for the second straight round, played at home and faced a tough test against Lille
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...
. Similar to the previous match, Kabze opened the scoring in the first half. The Turkish international
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
later added another goal in the 52nd minute to give Montpellier a 2–0 lead. Lille drew one goal closer following a strike from Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard is a Belgian footballer who currently plays for French club Lille in Ligue 1 and the Belgium national team. He primarily plays as an attacking midfielder and a winger. Hazard is known for his creativity, speed, and technical ability and is described as a "fearless, explosive attacking...
in the 67th minute. Despite constant pressure from Lille, the hosts were able to hold onto its 2–1 advantage to progress to the semi-finals where they faced the defending Coupe de France champions
2010 Coupe de France Final
The 2010 Coupe de France Final was the 92nd final of France's most prestigious cup competition. The final took place on 1 May 2010 at the Stade de France in the Parisian suburb of Saint-Denis. The match was contested between Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain...
Paris Saint-Germain. After 90 minutes, both club's were goalless, which resulted in the match going into extra time. Two minutes from time, Montpellier striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
Olivier Giroud
Olivier Giroud
Olivier Giroud is a French footballer. He currently plays as a striker for the Ligue 1 side Montpellier.-Career:Giroud is one of Tours FC's 2009/2010 season discoveries, and was the team's top-scorer....
netted the game-winning goal to give Montpellier's its first appearance in a final match since the 1994 edition of the Coupe de France.
Pre-match
Pre-match festivities included a rehearsed show, which displayed over 70 dancers and acrobats from the Cirque Mandingo and Studios de Cirque, 2500 metres (1.6 mi) of KevlarKevlar
Kevlar is the registered trademark for a para-aramid synthetic fiber, related to other aramids such as Nomex and Technora. Developed at DuPont in 1965, this high strength material was first commercially used in the early 1970s as a replacement for steel in racing tires...
rope, 18 giant balloons that represented the previous Coupe de la Ligue finals as well as the current one, and the Coupe de la Ligue trophy. During the introduction and warm-up of the teams, players wore tee shirts showing support for France Télévisions
France Télévisions
France Télévisions is the French public national television broadcaster. It is a state-owned company formed from the bringing together of the public television channels France 2 and France 3 , later joined by the legally independent channels France 5 , France Ô , and France 4 France Télévisions ...
journalists Hervé Ghesquière and Stéphane Taponier, as well as their three companions. The journalists were kidnapped on 29 December 2009 while working in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
doing a piece for the Pièces à Conviction
Pièces à Conviction
Pièces à Conviction is a monthly French investigative journalism TV program that airs on France 3. Elise Lucet has hosted the program since 2000.-In Depth News Show:...
magazine and have yet to be released. The shirts displayed the pictures of the two journalists, as well as the statements "Libérez les otages!" (Free the hostages!) and "Freedom".
The opening kick-off was done by French triple jump
Triple jump
The triple jump is a track and field sport, similar to the long jump, but involving a “hop, bound and jump” routine, whereby the competitor runs down the track and performs a hop, a bound and then a jump into the sand pit.The triple jump has its origins in the Ancient Olympics and has been a...
er Teddy Tamgho
Teddy Tamgho
Teddy Tamgho is a French triple jumper. He is the third best ever triple jumper in all conditions with a mark of 17.98 metres from the Adidas Grand Prix in June 2010....
. Tamgho, who set two world indoor records at the 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships
2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships
The 31st European Athletics Indoor Championships were held at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy in Paris, France, from 4 to 6 March 2011.A record high of 630 athletes, representing 46 countries, were entered into the three-day competition. Twenty-six track and field events were contested at the...
, was the third athlete in the competition's final history to kick-off the final of the Coupe de la Ligue. 1992
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
and 1996
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
Olympic
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
gold medalist Marie-José Pérec
Marie-José Pérec
Marie-José Pérec is a French athlete, specialised in the 200 and 400 m, and a triple Olympic champion....
and 2002 European and 2003 World Championships
2003 World Championships in Athletics
The 9th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held from 23 August to 31 August 2003 in the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis, France.-Track:...
gold medalist Muriel Hurtis-Houairi were the previous two.
Team news
Marseille entered the match without French internationalFrance national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
Loïc Rémy
Loïc Rémy
Loïc Rémy is a French international footballer who plays for French club Marseille in Ligue 1. Rémy primarily plays in the lead striker role, but also operates on the wings and as a second striker...
due to suspension. Rémy was given a straight red card
Penalty card
A penalty card is used in many sports as a means of warning, reprimanding or penalising a player, coach or team official. Penalty cards are most commonly used by referees or umpires to indicate that a player has committed an offense. The referee will hold the card above his or her head while...
in the team's league match on 17 April, ironically, against Montpellier after getting into a physical altercation with defender Abdel El Kaoutari
Abdelhamid El Kaoutari
Abdelhamid El Kaoutari is a Moroccan footballer. He currently plays for the French club Montpellier in Ligue 1.-Football career:...
. Aside from Rémy, Marseille was also without starting right back César Azpilicueta
César Azpilicueta
César Azpilicueta Tanco is a Spanish footballer who plays for Olympique de Marseille in France, as a right defender.-Club career:...
who is currently rehabbing a torn anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
in his left knee; an injury he suffered in November 2010.
Montpellier entered the match without two players due to suspension. Bosnian international
Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team
The Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team is the national football team of Bosnia and Herzegovina, governed by the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
Emir Spahić
Emir Spahic
Emir Spahić is a Bosnian football central defender playing for Sevilla FC in the Spanish La Liga and captains the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team...
and French youth international
France national youth football team
The France national youth football team are the national under-20, under-19, under-18, under-17 and under-16 football teams of France and are controlled by the Fédération Française de Football. The youth teams of France participate in tournaments sanctioned by both FIFA and UEFA and also...
El Kaoutari. El Kaoutari missed the final due to his previously mentioned altercation with Loïc Rémy. Due to previously being given a yellow card in the match, the defender was given a second yellow card for the confrontation with the Marseille striker. Montpellier was also without French youth international Karim Aït-Fana
Karim Aït-Fana
Karim Aït-Fana is a French footballer of Moroccan descent currently playing for Ligue 1 club Montpellier. Aït-Fana can play in a variety of attacking positions, which include playing in the hole, as a winger, and in the attacking midfield position...
due to injury.
Match details
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | MARSEILLE: | |||
| GK | 30 | Steve Mandanda Steve Mandanda Steve Mandanda is a French international footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for French club Olympique de Marseille in Ligue 1. He currently serves as first-choice captain of Marseille... (c) |
||
| RB | 24 | Rod Fanni Rod Fanni Rod Fanni is a French footballer who plays as a right back for French club Olympique de Marseille and the French national team.-Club career:... |
||
| CB | 21 | Souleymane Diawara Souleymane Diawara Souleymane Diawara is a Senegalese footballer who plays as a central defender for Olympique Marseille and the Senegal national team.-Career:... |
||
| CB | 19 |  Gabriel HeinzeGabriel Heinze Gabriel Iván Heinze is an Argentine footballer who plays for A.S. Roma in Italy. Mainly a left back, he can also operate as a central defender.... |
||
| LB | 3 |  Taye Taiwo |
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| DM | 17 |  Stéphane MbiaStéphane Mbia Stéphane Mbia Etoundi is a Cameroonian football player who plays for French League 1 club Olympique Marseille.-Career:... |
||
| CM | 7 | Benoît Cheyrou Benoït Cheyrou Benoît Cheyrou is a French football player who currently plays for Olympique de Marseille in Ligue 1. He plays as a central midfielder and often acts as a deep-lying playmaker for the attack. Cheyrou is known for his vision, distribution, and assists... |
||
| CM | 8 | Lucho González |
||
| RW | 28 | Mathieu Valbuena Mathieu Valbuena Mathieu Valbuena is a French international footballer who plays for Marseille in Ligue 1. He plays as an attacking midfielder and a winger and is known for his quickness, technical ability, and tenacious style of play... |
||
| LW | 20 |  André AyewAndré Ayew André Morgan Rami Ayew is a Ghanaian football player who currently plays for French club Marseille in Ligue 1. He is often referred to as simply Dédé. Ayew plays as a winger, but can play as a striker... |
||
| FW | 10 | André-Pierre Gignac André-Pierre Gignac André-Pierre Gignac is a French professional football player who currently plays for French club Marseille in Ligue 1. He primarily plays as a striker whose influence can extend out to the wings. Gignac is described as a "powerful and dangerous" striker who is known for his "aerial presence"... |
||
| Substitutes: | ||||
| GK | 40 |  Elinton AndradeElinton Andrade Elinton Sanchotene Andrade is a Brazilian goalkeeper currently playing for Olympique de Marseille in the French Ligue 1.-Titles:-See also:***... |
||
| DF | 5 | Hilton |
||
| DF | 26 | Jean-Philippe Sabo Jean-Philippe Sabo Jean-Philippe Sabo is a French professional footballer who plays as a defender for Ligue 1 club Marseille.-Career:Born in Gouvieux, Sabo began his career with Marseille, making his debut during the 2007–08 season. Sabo spent the 2008–09 season on loan at Montpellier and spent the... |
||
| MF | 6 | Édouard Cissé Édouard Cissé Édouard Cissé is a French football player who is currently contracted to AJ Auxerre in the French Ligue 1.-Career:He is a midfielder, 1.86 metres tall. Cissé previously played for Monaco in France and West Ham in the English Premiership and Paris Saint-Germain... |
||
| MF | 12 |  Charles KaboréCharles Kaboré Charles Kaboré is a footballer from Burkina Faso.- Career :Kaboré played on youthside for Association Sportive SONABEL and Etoile Filante Ouagadougou... |
||
| MF | 18 | Fabrice Abriel Fabrice Abriel Fabrice Abriel in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine is a French footballer currently playing for OGC Nice.- External links :... |
||
| FW | 15 | Jordan Ayew Jordan Ayew Jordan Ayew , is a Ghanaian footballer who plays for French Ligue 1 club Olympique de Marseille.-Career:... |
||
| Manager: | ||||
| Didier Deschamps Didier Deschamps Didier Claude Deschamps is a retired French footballer and current manager of Marseille. He played as a defensive midfielder. As an international, he assisted France with victories in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000... |
||||
Laurent PionnierLaurent Pionnier
Laurent Pionnier is a French footballer who plays for Montpellier, as a goalkeeper.-References:...
Garry BocalyGarry Bocaly
Garry Bocaly is a French footballer who plays for Montpellier, as a right back.-Career:A native of Martinique, Bocaly arrived at Marseille in 2004. He made his debut on 5 March 2006 against rivals Paris Saint-Germain in the annual Le Classique under bizarre circumstances...
Mapou Yanga-M'BiwaMapou Yanga-M'Biwa
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is a Franco-Central African professional football player who currently plays for French club Montpellier in Ligue 1. He primarily plays as a right back, but can play along the entire back line...
Benjamin StambouliBenjamin Stambouli
Benjamin Stambouli is a French football player who currently plays for French club Montpellier in Ligue 1. He is equally adept at playing as either a defender or a midfielder...
Cyril JeunechampCyril Jeunechamp
Cyril Jeunechamp is a French footballer playing for French Ligue 1 side Montpellier.- Career :Jeunechamp began his career at hometown club Nîmes Olympique, later playing for AJ Auxerre and Bastia when they made their way to the finals of the French Cup...
Joris MarveauxJoris Marveaux
Joris Marveaux is a French footballer currently playing for Ligue 1 club Montpellier. His younger brother, Sylvain Marveaux, plays for Newcastle United in the Premier League.-External links:...
Romain PitauRomain Pitau
Romain Pitau is a French football midfielder, currently playing for Montpellier HSC.-External links:...
(c)
Younès BelhandaYounès Belhanda
Younès Belhanda is a French-born Moroccan football player who currently plays for French club Montpellier in Ligue 1.-External links:...
Jamel SaihiJamel Saihi
Jamel Saihi is a French-born Tunisian footballer currently under contract for French side Montpellier.-External links:*...
Olivier GiroudOlivier Giroud
Olivier Giroud is a French footballer. He currently plays as a striker for the Ligue 1 side Montpellier.-Career:Giroud is one of Tours FC's 2009/2010 season discoveries, and was the team's top-scorer....
Souleymane CamaraSouleymane Camara
Souleymane Camara is a Senegalese football player who plays for Montpellier HSC in Ligue 1.Camara previously played for AS Monaco and OGC Nice....
Geoffrey JourdrenGeoffrey Jourdren
Geoffrey Jourdren is a French Goalkeeper, who currently plays for Montpellier HSC.-External links:...
Xavier CollinXavier Collin
Xavier Collin is a French professional footballer who plays for Montpellier, as a defender.He formerly played for Amiens, Gueugnon and Ajaccio.-External links:...
Teddy MézagueTeddy Mézague
Teddy Mézague is a French professional footballer who plays for FC Martigues on loan from Montpellier, as a defender.-External links:...
Geoffrey DernisGeoffrey Dernis
Geoffrey Dernis is a French football midfielder currently playing for Montpellier HSC.-External links:*...
Marco EstradaMarco Estrada
Marco Estrada may refer to:*Marco Estrada *Marco Estrada...
Hasan KabzeHasan Kabze
Hasan Salih Kabze is a Turkish international footballer. He currently plays as a striker for Montpellier HSC. Formerly, he played for Bucaspor, Çanakkale Dardanelspor, Galatasaray SK and Rubin Kazan.-Galatasaray:...
Bangali-Fodé KoitaBangali-Fodé Koita
Bangali-Fodé Koita is a French professional football player of Guinean origin. Currently, he plays in the Ligue 1 for Montpellier HSC....
René GirardRené Girard (footballer)
René Girard is a former football midfielder from France.- Career :Girard won seven caps for France and was a member of the squad that finished fourth at the 1982 FIFA World Cup....
MATCH OFFICIALS
MAN OF THE MATCH
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MATCH RULES
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