Toulouse claim historic Coupe de France with Nantes battering
Referee Benoit Millot’s first whistle was barely heard amongst the fervent support in a deafening Stade de France, and the possibility of successive cup trophies for Nantes - as famously won in 1999 and 2000 - gave them a huge incentive.
But it was a special occasion for Toulouse, and it took just four minutes of their first-ever major final for the swathes of purple in Saint-Denis to silence their yellow-clad counterparts, as an unlikely hero emerged.
Largely an absent figure in Toulouse’s strong return to Ligue 1, Logan Costa literally rose to the occasion, towering above Andrei Girotto and heading in a Branco van den Boomen corner before Alban Lafont could react.
And just minutes later, the Cape Verdean was at it again. This time, Dallinga sent Van den Boomen’s free-kick back across and with all the power and determination of his Herculean first, Costa was there to bullet in off the bar.
Some hint of Nantes' response followed, but there was soon a third for the Violets faithful to celebrate.
A perfect sweeping pass by Gabriel Suazo allowed Thijs Dallinga to get in just before Lafont and delicately chip in, and the Dutchman secured a brace of his own just eight minutes later, slotting home an unbelievable fourth on the rebound.
There had been everything to suggest that Toulouse would go on to challenge the post-war record margin in a cup final, set by Saint-Etienne back in 1970 against none other than Nantes via a 5-0 victory. However, Philippe Montanier’s side opted to sit back to protect their emphatic lead.
Multiple half-time substitutes sought to change the run of play in Nantes’ favour, and Andy Delort headed just over moments after his introduction before they were granted the smallest of lifelines with 15 minutes to go.
Fabian Centonze was felled in the box, and last year’s cup final matchwinner Ludovic Blas smashed in the resulting penalty.
Any hopes of a comeback were almost immediately destroyed by a fifth in the form of a long-range Zakaria Aboukhlal drive, and Toulouse ultimately cruised to victory.
Proceedings drew to a close with jubilation at the purple end of Stade de France, and the triumphant Toulouse deservedly lifted their country’s oldest and most fabled national trophy.
With this landmark honour, they will also embark on their first European odyssey in 14 years next season, as an entire generation of young Toulouse supporters prepare to usher in a new golden era.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Logan Costa (Toulouse)
