With the score locked at 1-1 and extra-time failing to separate the two sides, Saturday night’s victory came down to a penalty shoot-out – with Lössi edging ahead to win 3-2.
Based on the statistics, the odds were firmly in Magenta’s favour with the team making its fourth consecutive appearance of 12 in total, compared with Lössi’s third ever appearance. However the visitors from Lifou had no intention of letting that influence their approach to the match.
Following an uneventful first period the side, led by Les Cagous assistant coach Thierry Sardo, opened the scoring through a seemingly innocuous Michel Wassin shot from the sideline which fell under the bar after goalkeeper Steeve Ixoée miscalculated its trajectory.
After taking the advantage Lössi continued their attack while also shoring up their defence to keep Magenta behind.
However, despite their best efforts Lössi were unable to hold onto their 1-0 lead with Noël Kaudré putting his head to a cross from Kalaje Gnipate in the second minute of injury time to equalise.
Lössi came very close to taking the match in the dying seconds when Dick Kauma beat goalkeeper Ixoée only to see his header hit the left upright post.
With the match still even after extra-time, the match went to a penalty shoot-out which, thanks to two impressive saves from Lössi goalkeeper Michel Hne, finished 3-2 in the Loyalty Islanders’ favour.
Lössi coach Sardo was lost for words as his side lifted the Coupe de Calédonie.
“There are no words to describe what I feel – it’s huge and so pleasing,” Sardo says.
“My players are warriors. I’m so proud of them – they showed that they were men. The reason we work so hard is to live in moments like this, my men deserve this victory.”
Lössi captain Luther Wahnyamalla credits both teams for an intense, evenly-matched display.
“Magenta was strong, I’m proud to have faced this great team,” he says.
“But we were well prepared mentally to win and we were rewarded with the Coupe de Calédonie. Our team has been gaining momentum throughout the season for this.”
Magenta coach Alain Moizan, forced to watch from the stands following his sending off during the national side’s match against Tahiti at the French Overseas Territories Cup, says his team was unlucky not to have capitalised on their chances.
“Unfortunately we lost the lottery. We had chances to win, but so did they,” Moizan says.
“It is football, it’s like that – the victory was beautiful, bravo to Lössi.”
Lössi president Jöel Hlupa says credit must be attributed to Sardo whose influence at the club has been marked.
“His arrival has changed many things, I take my hat off to him,” Hlupa says.
“There were a lot of emotions and I am very satisfied with what was done by the players. People always remember the winner and they will remember that it was Lössi who won the Coupe de Calédonie in 2012”
In lifting the trophy, Lössi has also claimed New Caledonia’s berth in the seventh round of the Coupe de France, which will see them face semi-professional French outfit Mulhouse at Stade Numa Daly on November 17.
For highlights of the match between Lössi and Magenta click here
For more on New Caledonia football go to www.fedcalfoot.com

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