Katoto Ends Goal Drought as Lyon Demolish Strasbourg to Reach Cup Final
Marie-Antoinette Katoto ended a four-match scoreless run with a brace as Olympique Lyonnais thrashed Racing Strasbourg 6-0 on Sunday to reach the final of the Coupe de France. The French champions, fresh from a 4-1 victory over Wolfsburg in the Women's Champions League, were two goals up within five minutes at the Stade de la Meinau and never looked back, setting up a final against rivals Paris Saint-Germain on May 10 in Valenciennes.
Katoto, who had last scored on February 14, opened her account from the penalty spot in the fifth minute after Amalie Svava's early opener, and added a second penalty just before halftime. Captain Wendie Renard also converted a spot-kick, while Ada Hegerberg ended her own six-week goal drought with Lyon's fourth. Substitute Jodie Shrader completed the rout late on, making it ten goals scored across two dominant cup performances this week.
The comprehensive victory reinforces Lyon's domestic supremacy as they pursue a historic treble, having already secured the Division 1 Féminine title and remaining in contention for the Champions League. For Strasbourg, the defeat ends a cup run that saw them reach the semi-finals, but they were simply overwhelmed by the quality and intensity of the record fourteen-time cup winners.
The final will be a repeat of last year's showpiece, which Lyon won 2-1, and continues one of women's football's great modern rivalries. The two sides have already met twice this season in league and cup competition, with Lyon prevailing on both occasions. According to post-match reports, manager Sonia Bompastar highlighted the team's collective performance and the timely return to scoring form of her key forwards as crucial ahead of the season's climax.
Katoto's double, taking her season tally to 22 goals in all competitions, will be a significant relief for a player whose move to Lyon from PSG last summer was one of the most high-profile transfers in the women's game. After a serious knee injury in 2022, her first season in Lyon has been about regaining peak fitness and form, with this performance suggesting she is hitting her stride at the perfect moment. The context of her goal drought, while notable, was always relative given her overall contribution and the team's continued success.
With the league title secured, Lyon can now focus fully on the two remaining cup finals. The result against Strasbourg sends a formidable message to their upcoming opponents, PSG, demonstrating the depth of attacking threat at Bompastar's disposal. The stage is now set for another decisive chapter in French women's football's premier fixture.
