It is at the end of November-beginning of December that the 8th round of the French Football Cup will take place, the one which precedes the entry into the running of the Ligue 1 clubs. Three clubs from Vendée and one club from Loire-Atlantique qualified this weekend. The Herbiers club (N2) will face the Girondins de Bordeaux (N2). La Roche VF (N2) will face Orléans (N1). L'Etoile Sportive Ornaysienne Football Vendée La Roche-sur-Yon (N3) will play against Aytré (R2). And the Saint-Philbert-de-Grandlieu club (N3) will play against a team in Reunion, Saint-Denis FC (R1).
Another feat from the Herbiers
The performance that left its mark once again came from VHF, the Herbiers club, accustomed to shining in this competition, even reaching the final in 2018. Friday evening, in the last five minutes, the Red and Black overthrew Ajaccio. The Corsican club, however, plays in Ligue 2, two divisions above Les Herbiers. Laurent David's players will play away from their base for this 8th round. It will be against the Girondins de Bordeaux (N2, like the VHF). The Bordelais won their match against FC Bressuire this Sunday evening. Les Herbiers and Bordeaux are in the same N2 group and will also face each other in the championship in mid-December.
Another qualified Vendée club, that of La Roche VF (N2) defeated Cazaux (R3) 6 to 0. La Roche VF will face Orléans, Nationale 1 club. The meeting is planned in Loiret. Still in Vendée, L'Etoile Sportive Ornaysienne Football Vendée La Roche-sur-Yon obtained, on Saturday, the right to play the 8th round for the first time in its history. The Yonnais won 2-1 over the Sud-Vendéens of Fontenay-le-Comte. The ESOF La Roche-sur-Yon club will be hosted by Aytré (R3).
As for Loire-AtlantiqueSaint-Philbert-de-Grandlieu (N3) won 3-0 on Saturday over Thouars (R1). Saint-Philbert, who could have faced Pau, a Ligue 2 club, will have the right to a long trip and must play in Reunion face au Saint-Denis FC (R1).
Clubs eliminated
Among the Loire-Atlantique clubs eliminated in the 7th round, USSA Vertou (N3) lost on penalties during the match in La Rochelle, against Aytré-Etoile Maritime (R2). Neither team scored during the match. Etoile Maritime, which had already eliminated hierarchically higher clubs in previous rounds, succeeded in the penalty shootout. Four against three for the Vertavians. On the Vendée side, besides Fontenay-le-Comte beaten by ESO La Roche, the little thumb of FC St Philbert La Réorthe La Jaudonnière was also taken out in the 7th round. After a 6-0 defeat against Mérignac, but a exceptional journey for the small club in the Chantonnay area.
Remember that Ligue 1 clubs, including FC Nantes, will enter this French Cup during the weekend of December 21 and 22. We will then be at the stage of the 32nd finals.
