Fourth-division Quevilly upheld their giant-killing reputation with a 3-1 French Cup quarter-final win over topflight Boulogne on Tuesday.
Quevilly were joined in the semi-finals by Paris Saint Germain (PSG), who beat Auxerre 6-5 on penalties after their tie ended goalless after extra time.
The other two quarter-finals yesterday were to pit Monaco against Sochaux and Lens against Saint Etienne.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Quevilly, finalists in 1927 and semi-finalists in 1968, shot into an 1lth minute lead courtesy of Florian Coquio.
In-form winger Anthony Laup doubled their advantage just before the half hour only for Damien Marcq to cut the deficit in first half stoppage time with a header.
Any hopes the visitors may have entertained of getting back into the tie were dashed in the 67th minute when Abdel Majide Ouahbi grabbed the high achieving Normandy club’s third goal.
This was a huge result watched by Quevilly’s 10,000 fans at the Stade Robert Diochon in Rouen as their own ground was deemed too small against the team that had knocked out Cup holders Guingamp in the previous round.
Regis Broaurd’s men are the first amateurs to make it to the last four since Montceau-les-Mines three years ago.
“We thoroughly deserved the win,” Brouard said. “To knock out a team from the first division is always a feat. We scored three goals from open play so there’s not a great deal to say except ‘bravo’ to the players. What we’ve done is enormous. Now we’re one match away from a trip to the Stade de France.”
“The best team won,” Boulogne manager Laurent Guyot said.
Boulogne president Jacques Wattez was less magnanimous in defeat, saying: “Tonight I am ashamed to be ‘Boulonnais.’”
Later PSG’s winning spot kick against Auxerre was converted by Claude Makelele after Julien Quercia had missed Auxerre’s first sudden death spot kick at 5-5.
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