Sixth-tier Club Franciscain were brought down to earth by Nantes in the Coupe de France, while top-flight teams Lorient and OGC Nice lost to lower-league opposition on Saturday.
Nantes’ 4-0 victory, including a Club Franciscain own-goal, ended the visitors’ ambition to become the first side from the Antilles to reach the round-of-32.
The small club traveled from the Caribbean island of Martinique to take on the 1999-2000 champions in heavy rain at Stade de La Beaujoire Louis-Fonteneau.
Photo: AFP
Lorient and Nice became the first top-flight casualties, losing 1-0 to third-tier US Avranches Mont Saint Michel and 2-0 at second-tier Valenciennes respectively.
SC Bastia came out on top of a tie between two Ligue 1 sides with a 2-0 win over six-time winners LOSC Lille Metropole after midfielder Floyd Ayite scored twice in the first half.
Ligue 1 club Evian Thonon Gaillard, the 2012-2013 runners-up, also advanced with a 3-0 win at sixth-tier AF Bobigny.
Playing on a poor surface, Evian did not score until the 68th minute.
Facing more sixth-tier opposition at US Lusitanos Saint-Maur, Stade de Reims won 3-1 after overcoming a strong resistance from the Paris suburb team, who leveled through Sitou Ayi following Diego Rigonato’s opener.
Gaetan Charbonnier put Reims back in command and Nicolas de Preville sealed the visitors’ win with an overhead-kick.
In Nantes, Lucas Deaux opened the scoring with a well-taken shot from the edge of the penalty area into the top corner after 14 minutes, before Florian Narcissot headed the ball into his own net in the 32nd.
The amateur side’s task was made nearly impossible early in the second half when Jorick Ephestion was sent off for a misjudged tackle on Issa Cissokho.
Club Franciscain players looked spent in the closing stages, as Nantes scored twice more.
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