Minnows Carquefou slay high-fliers in French Cup


Written by: AFP Bookmark and Share
2008-02-03 18:44:17

AS Nancy´s defender Frederic Biancalani (R) vies with Carquefou´s forward Gueben Maquiese (L), during their French Cup Football match. Fifth division outfit Carquefou produced the shock of the French Cup in knocking out first division high-fliers Nancy on Sunday.
  AS Nancy´s defender Frederic Biancalani (R) vies with Carquefou´s forward Gueben Maquiese (L), during their French Cup Football match. Fifth division outfit Carquefou produced the shock of the French Cup in knocking out first division high-fliers Nancy on Sunday.
PARIS (AFP) - Fifth division outfit Carquefou produced a huge French Cup shock Sunday, knocking out first division high-fliers Nancy to reach the last 16, while league leaders Lyon avoided a similar fate with a narrow win over a fourth division side.

After a goalless 90 minutes at Carquefou the match came to life in extra-time when, instead of Nancy's superior fitness proving decisive, their hosts from a small northwestern town shocked them by first taking the lead, then going back in front after the professionals had levelled.

Laurent Delanoe opened the scoring after 101 minutes of hard-fought action which had seen Nancy look nothing like the side standing third in the French table and dreaming of possible participation in the Champions League next season.

They emerged from their slumber briefly when Marc-Antoine Fortune levelled inside four minutes with a fortuitous lob, just before the end of the first period of extra-time.

But if the first division side thought they had earned at least a replay Sebastien Le Paih had other ideas and netted the winner with three minutes to go at a Stade du Moulin-Bousseau packed with 3,000 fans.

"It's a shock," said Carquefou coach Denis Renaud.

"It will take a few days to sink in. Now we're just three matches away from the Stade de France (which will host the final."

Nancy coach Pablo Correa slammed his side.

"We didn't deserve any better and I have to congratulate Carquefou. They wanted it more than we did."

In an all-first division encounter, ten-time winners Marseille saw off neighbours Monaco 3-1 at the Stade Velodrome where new signing from Caen, Elliot Grandin set up the opener for Mathieu Valbuena before hitting a sumptuous second inside the opening ten minutes.

Djibril Cisse, on a hot streak after his up-and-down Liverpool adventure, bagged the third before Djamel Bakar netted a consolation.

Lyon meanwhile thanked a goal ten minutes from time by Brazilian Fred as the league leaders edged out fourth division Croix de Savoie 1-0.

On Saturday, Ivorian striker Amara Diane scored a brace as Paris Saint Germain made it into the last 16 by ending the dreams of fifth division Le Poire-sur-Vie, 3-1 away, while holders Sochaux also advanced, on penalties, against Montpellier.

Another fifth division side, Lyon-Duchere lost out to the only goal, scored for top flight Lille by Nicolas Fauvergue.




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