Ligue 1 leaders Olympique de Marseille were sensationally knocked out of the Coupe de France on Sunday as fourth-tier Grenoble Foot 38 prevailed in a penalty shootout after the sides finished 3-3 after extra-time.
The last-64 tie went to an extra 30 minutes when Grenoble came back twice to level at 2-2 before Ghana’s Andre Ayew appeared to score the winner with his strike in the first half of extra-time for Marseille.
However, a superb header from Grenoble’s Selim Bengriba in the dying seconds set up the penalty finale and former Grenoble midfielder Florian Thauvin missed the only kick of the shootout to hand the home side a famous victory.
Photo: AFP
“We didn’t do what we had to do and to lose this match is unacceptable,” Ayew said.
“We were leading three times, but we now have to concentrate on the second half of the league season which is very important. Grenoble showed a lot of desire and determination, but we’re very disappointed,” he added.
Elsewhere in Coupe action there were only a few surprises, as seven Ligue 1 sides — including AS Monaco, Olympique Lyonnais and AS Saint-Etienne all marched into the next round.
Holders En Avant de Guingamp began their defense in style as they dispatched lower-tier outfit Dinan-Lehon 3-2, while Girondins de Bordeaux edged Toulouse 2-1 in an all top-flight affair in the south.
“For our first match after the break, we can be satisfied with our performance,” Bordeaux coach Willy Sagnol said.
“We showed something today that was lacking during the last 10 days in December and this victory allows us to start the year well and now go to Monaco with some confidence,” he added, looking ahead to les Girondins’ league match this Sunday at the Stade Louis II.
For Lyon, three goals inside the opening 30 minutes were enough to hold off Racing Club de Lens 3-2 in Calais, while Monaco were too strong for second-division Nimes Olympique, running out 2-0 victors.
“To score three goals away from home in the French Cup is a great performance,” Lyon coach Hubert Fournier said.
“We had to be conscious of the mental capacities of Lens, who never gave up, and it is good preparation for when we face them in the league in the coming weeks,” he added.
Franck Tabanou starred for Saint-Etienne when his extra-time volley on 97 minutes was the difference in a 1-0 victory over second-division side AS Nancy-Lorraine, while last year’s finalists Stade de Rennais took their place in the next round with a 2-1 win at USL Dunkerque.
In Sunday’s remaining games, Metz overcame SAS Epinal 2-1, amateurs GS Consolat Marseille crushed Ligue 2 side AC Ajaccio 3-0 and AJ Auxerre edged RC Strasbourg Alsace 1-0.
Also on the day, Ligue 2 club Dijon FCO upset top-flight Stade Malherbe Caen Calvados 3-2 and Cholet SO snatched a victory by beating AS Beauvais Oise 6-5 on penalties.
Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain were to take on Montpellier Herault in yesterday’s only Coupe fixture.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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