Third-tier SAS Epinal continued their brilliant run in the Coupe de France when they knocked out Ligue 2 high-fliers Nantes on penalties in their round-of-32 match on Tuesday.
SAS Epinal, who eliminated Olympique Lyonnais in the previous round, outplayed Nantes, who lie second in the Ligue 2 standings.
Judicael Crillon opened the scoring for the hosts nine minutes into the second half, only for Filip Djordjevic to equalize in the last minute of normal time and send the match into extra-time.
Photo: AFP
No goals were scored and goalkeeper Olivier Robin stopped two penalties in the shootout as Epinal won 4-3 to go through.
“It’s crazy. Everyone gave everything, we’re all extremely tired, but we won,” midfielder Valentin Focki told Eurosport.
Minnows Mende’s Coupe de France run ended in abrupt fashion when the amateurs were humbled by second-tier Le Havre AC.
Mende, who play in the Division d’Honneur (seventh tier) and eliminated second-tier AC Arles-Avignon in the previous round, held Le Havre until 10 minutes from time.
Alexandre Bonnet broke the deadlock, before Walid Mesloub and Elhadji Ba wrapped it up.
Ligue 1 side Evian Thonon Gaillard struggled, but went through with a 2-0 win at fifth-tier Vertou, while Lorient beat second-tier CS Sedan Ardennes 1-0.
ES Troyes AC had less trouble seeing off fourth-tier Fontenay-le-Comte 5-0.
The Rouen versus Olympique de Marseille game was postponed because of a non-toxic gas leak at a chemical factory.
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