Folie à la Beaujoire, Nantes in the Youth League semi-finals

6 months ago 28
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In front of 19,000 spectators, the young people of FC Nantes qualified for the semi-finals of the Youth League by winning a crazy match against Copenhagen (3-3, 5-4 tab).

Clearly, to experience positive emotions at La Beaujoire, FC Nantes must count on its young people. While Jocelyn Gourvennec’s men remain on six consecutive defeats in their stadium, the young Canaries won their ticket for the semi-finals of the Youth League after a spectacular meeting against Copenhagen (3-3 , 5-4 tab).

In front of more than 19,000 spectators, a record for a French club, and one of the 5 largest crowds in the history of the competition, the Nantais started well, with a brilliant strike from Dehmaine Tabibou (12th), but the sequel was more complicated. The Danes thus scored three times, including a goal and two assists from Emil Hojlund (18th, 31st, 33rd), the little brother of the Manchester United striker.

Penalties still smile in Nantes

But Nantes regained hope after the red card received by Olsson (35th). And even if Tabibou missed a penalty just before the break (45th + 2), Stéphane Moreau’s protégés managed to come back in the second half, thanks to home scorer Exaucé Mafoumbi (54th), and a mad left strike from Louis Leroux (64th).

As against Helsinki, Poznan and Seville, the Canaries had to go through penalties. And goalkeeper Tom Mabon was once again decisive, stopping three of the last four Danish attempts, while his team had their backs to the wall (5-4 tab). La Beaujoire was able to explode, and Nantes will go to Nyon for the Final Four of this U19 Champions League, with a duel to come against Olympiakos.

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Written by:

Manu Tournoux

Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.

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