Lille Métropole Hockey Club were crowned French double champions with both their men and women qualifying for next season’s EHL as a result.
For the women, they will make their debut at next Easter’s FINAL12 as they defeated Polo Marcq-en-Barœul in a shootout following a goalless draw.
** Photo: Cedric Martin/France Hockey
Lille set up with a strong defensive structure, allowing Polo to control much of the possession while looking to create opportunities on the counter-attack.
The pattern remained similar after the half-time with both sides well organised and exchanges largely balanced. Each team had moments in open play and from penalty corners but neither was able to convert. Polo came closest in the 43rd minute when a shot was blocked on the line by Sixtine Aélion.
The final quarter brought increased pressure from Marcq, who pushed for a late winner and, with just six seconds remaining, they earned a penalty corner.
Marie-Sophie Gryndzinski’s effort was deflected by the first runner before Aélion again intervened on the line, this time with her knee, resulting in a penalty stroke.
Agustina Arista stepped up but Lille goalkeeper Nadin Lacas made the save, keeping the scores level and sending the match to a shootout.
In the shootout, Lille recovered after missing their first attempt, converting their next four. Polo, meanwhile, were denied twice by Lacas, whose performance proved decisive in a 4-2 success.
After the match, Lille coach Rafael Navarro said: “We knew we were facing a team that defends very well.
“Our objective was to match that defensively and to look for opportunities on the counter-attack. I thank our opponents for the quality of their play and I congratulate the Lille players, who stayed committed and handled the key moments well.”
On the men’s side, it also went to shoot-out with Lille defeating Racing Club de France after normal time ended in a 1-1 draw.
The match started positively for Lille, who opened the scoring in the 5th minute through Malo Martinache from a penalty corner. Racing responded well and gradually grew into the game, equalising in the 14th minute when Jonas Mahé finished a well-executed corner routine.
The second quarter saw fewer chances as both sides became more cautious, resulting in a quieter period before halftime with the score unchanged. A similar pattern followed in the second half, with both teams well organised defensively and limited opportunities created.
With neither team able to find a winner in regulation time, the match moved to a shootout. After the initial five rounds, the teams remained level at 4–4, taking the contest into sudden death.
Two further rounds went by with no winner and so the decisive moment came when Racing captain Simon Martin-Brisac missed his effort, pushing the ball just wide of goal. Park Junseok then converted to secure the win for Lille.
The result gives Lille their 17th French championship title and completes a historic double for the club.
Lille coach Jorge Silva Dabanch reflected after the match: “Our goal was to keep the ball moving and to inject some pace into the game, but our opponent defended very well and I think we didn’t put enough rhythm and intensity into the game to impose our style of play.”
Despite that assessment, Lille were able to find a way through in the shootout to secure the title.