Le Mans FC achieved a remarkable victory on Sunday, December 22, when they completely dominated FC Marmande with a stunning 7-0 scoreline during the Coupe de France match held at Stade Georges-Dartiailh.
This victory marks not only the end of FC Marmande's run but also Le Mans FC's first advancement to the round of 16 since the 2010-2011 season. The match was tightly contested yet overwhelmingly one-sided, reflecting the substantial difference between the two clubs' standings—Le Mans competing at the National level, whereas Marmande plays in the Regional 2 tier.
From the outset, Le Mans FC showcased their skill, scoring two goals within the first ten minutes. Captain Lauray opened the scoring in the 5th minute after capitalizing on a poorly cleared free-kick. Just five minutes later, Rabillard found the net with another goal from a precise cross delivered by Vula, making the score 2-0 early on.
The first-half tally hastily grew to 4-0 by halftime. The match proved to be pivotal for Le Mans FC, and they wasted no time establishing their dominance, with their players consistently outpacing and outmaneuvering their opponents.
Vula emerged as the star of the match, netting three goals—his first came at the 36-minute mark, followed by two more shortly after the break at minutes 50 and 54. By this point, any hopes held by FC Marmande of pulling off a surprise were thoroughly extinguished.
“Les Manceaux menaient déjà 4-0 à la pause,” (The Manceaux were already leading 4-0 at halftime), reported Le Petit Poucet. The upbeat performance of Le Mans was indicative of the preparation and skill they brought to the game, pummeling their opponents both physically and strategically.
FC Marmande, described as Le Petit Poucet’s underdog, had been riding high before this match, remaining unbeaten across all competitions. This drastic defeat, unfortunately, means they will pivot their focus back to their primary goal for the season: securing promotion to Regional 1. “Les Marmandais n’ont cette fois pu que constater la supériorité de leurs adversaires,” (The Marmande players could only acknowledge the superiority of their opponents this time), the article noted, summarizing the bitter reality they faced against Le Mans FC.
Despite the heavy loss, the endured experience is one FC Marmande can learn from as they refocus their ambitions within the league. Meanwhile, for Le Mans FC, this emphatic victory suggests they are on the rise and ready to tackle the challenges awaiting them as the tournament progresses.
With triumph ringing through their locker room and supporters filling the stands to celebrate, Le Mans FC now awaits its next opponents in hopes of weaving their way toward greater glory, continuing their quest within the prestigious Coupe de France.
