AS Saint-Etienne’s 17-game unbeaten run came to an abrupt end when Jeremie Aliadiere’s stoppage-time goal earned Lorient a 2-1 win at Geoffroy Guichard in a French Cup quarter-final tie on Tuesday.
Aliadiere volleyed home three minutes into added time as Lorient joined Troyes, who beat Nancy 3-0 at home earlier on Tuesday, in the last four.
“It’s a nice goal, but the most important thing is that it sends us to the semi-finals,” Aliadiere told Eurosport.
Photo: AFP
Saint-Etienne, who will play the League Cup final against Stade Rennais on Saturday, got off to a good start, but Brandao squandered two chances at the half hour.
Les Verts were caught cold one minute before half-time when Maxime Barthelme fired a shot from just inside the box into the top corner to put the visitors ahead.
Lorient came close to doubling the advantage in the 67th minute, but Stephane Ruffier pulled off a brilliant save to deny Aliadiere from point-blank range after the former Arsenal forward had been set up by Benjamin Corgnet.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who came on as a second-half substitute, latched onto a Renaud Cohade cross from the right to equalize in the 74th minute.
However, at the end of a sharp counter attack, Aliadiere volleyed a perfect Mathias Autret cross under the bar that silenced the home crowd.
It was Saint-Etienne’s first defeat in all competitions since a 1-0 loss at Olympique de Marseille in Ligue 1 on Dec. 23 last year.
At Troyes’ Stade de l’Aube, Jeremie Brechet headed home from a corner to put the hosts ahead seven minutes into the second half.
Winger Julien Faussurier doubled the tally in the 75th minute, firing past Damien Gregorini after being set up by Fabien Camus.
Camus then collected Faussurier’s cross to put the result beyond doubt from close range 10 minutes from time.
Yesterday, second division RC Lens were set to entertain Girondins de Bordeaux before Paris Saint-Germain faced Evian Thonon Gaillard away.
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