Dominated by Dunkerque (1-0), Auxerre is the only Ligue 1 team facing a lower level team to have fallen in the 32nd finals.
It's a first that Eirik Horneland, new Saint-Etienne coach, will be keen to forget. Reduced to ten from the 20th minute, ASSE never gave any illusions at home against Olympique de Marseille in the 32nd finals of the Coupe de France on Sunday (0-4). A match in line with the one which saw OM outclass the Greens in Ligue 1 two weeks earlier (0-2).
After the expulsion in the 21st minute of Ibrahim Sissoko for a bad gesture on Leonardo Balerdi, the Stéphanois, poorly classified in L1, conceded the opening score less than two minutes later by Mason Greenwood, author of a beautiful volleyed at the entrance to the area. Adrien Rabiot doubled the lead in the 34th minute with a rebound from a corner, then Luis Henrique (69th) and Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg (81st) increased the score in the second half.
The Union Saint-Jean goalkeeper saves two Monegasque penalties… in vain
OM thus qualified calmly like other L1 teams. Monaco, neck and neck with Marseille on the podium, never trembled (1-4) against the modest club Union Saint-Jean (Regional 1). At the Toulouse Stadium, ASM made the difference in the first period thanks to Eliesse Ben Seghir, who found the opening by sliding the ball between the legs of Fawzi Rabyi (20th), before Vanderson beat Larry Viltard in the surface (37th).
In the second half, Jordan Teze, with a nice shot from outside the area (65th), and George Ilenikhena in added time (90+1), increased the score while the amateurs saved the honor with Benjamin Tournier (83rd). Rabyi saved two penalties, first against Breel Embolo (45+3) then against Takumi Minamino (58th).
Rennes escapes from the Bordeaux trap
Reims, also in L1, had to exert its talent a little more (3-1) against another amateur club, Still-Mutzig (Regional 1). His qualification bears the seal of youth since the Reims goals were scored by Gabriel Moscardo (19 years old, 8th), on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, Mamadou Diakhon (19 years old, 65th), born and trained in Strasbourg, nearby from the Molsheim Sports Park, where the meeting took place, and finally Nhoa Sangui (18 years old, 76th). The sixth division fans shook the 10th in L1 in the space of five minutes by equalizing thanks to Thomas Schall on the hour mark.
Marseille, Monaco, Reims and… Rennes to complete an L1 quartet. The Bretons avoided the Bordeaux trap at Matmut Atlantique (1-4). Jorge Sampaoli's men, surprised by Soufiane Bahassa's superb volley from outside the area (18th), took eleven minutes to react thanks to a header from their captain of the day Adrien Truffert (29th).
The debates, balanced during a long half despite the three divisions of difference, ended up smiling on the residents of L1 and their Welshman Jordan James, who adjusted the local goalkeeper Lassana Diabaté with a strike from 20 meters (59th ). Despite the support of nearly 20,000 spectators, the Girondins of Bruno Irlès gave up physically after the hour mark, conceding two new goals from Lorenz Assignon (75th) and Arnaud Kalimuendo (79th).
Auxerre without inspiration
So, to find a surprise, you had to look in Yonne. Dunkirk, 3rd in Ligue 2, qualified at the expense of AJ Auxerre, a mid-ranking team in L1 (0-1). At Abbé-Deschamps, facing an AJA who had a good first part of the season in the elite, the Northerners scored the qualifying goal in the 26th minute through Enzo Bardeli.
Dunkirk, who remained on a convincing home victory in L2 against Caen (3-1), mastered the match rather well against an Auxerre team that was not very enterprising on the offensive level. The Auxerres only had two shots on target in the entire match, none in the first period. Continuation and end of the 32nd finals of the Coupe de France to follow live on our site.
Results of the 32nd finals this Sunday afternoon:
Saint-Étienne (L1) 0-4 Marseille (L1)
Bordeaux (N2) 1-4 Rennes (L1)
Still-Mutzig (R1) 1-3 Reims (L1)
Union Saint-Jean (R1) 1-4 Monaco (L1)
Auxerre (L1) 0-1 Dunkirk (L2)
