While it had lost three representatives on Friday evening, the National qualified four out of four on Sunday, notably Sochaux who defeated Clermont (L2). QRM, Valenciennes and Le Mans will also see the round of 16.
For the third level of the elite, these 32nd finals of the Coupe de France got off to a very bad start on Friday: if the elimination of FC Rouen against Lille (L1) was not dishonorable (0-1), those of the US Boulogne in Haguenau (N2, 1-4) and Dijon FCO in Espaly (N3, 1-1, 4 tab 3) were less impressive.
On Sunday, on the other hand, the four National representatives all came through. Without any problem for Le Mans FC against Petit Poucet of FC Marmande 47 (R2, 7-0); at the end of the match for QRM against Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu (N3, 2-0); and on penalties for Valenciennes FC at Thionville Lusitanos (N2, 2-2, 5 tab 4). But FC Sochaux truly symbolized this revolt by leaving Clermont (L2, 0-0, 5 tab 3).
Sochaux – Clermont Foot : 0-0 (5-3 tab)
The penultimate match on Sunday afternoon, as could be expected, was very lively in a well-stocked Auguste-Bonal stadium. In the first period, Clermont created several chances but systematically came up against an excellent Mathieu Patouillet. On the Sochalian side, there was no clear opportunity until the expulsion of Ousmane Diop with a foot in the face of Victor Mayela (76th). While the snow fell in abundance, the Sochaliens experienced a strong moment with a powerful strike from Issouf Macalou, who had just entered, repelled by Théo Guivarch (79th). The same Guivarch called upon just after by Armand Gnanduillet on a pivotal shot (80th). The very last opportunity was for Sochaux, but Corentin Jean's shot was unscrewed (90th + 4).
The Cubs converted all their shots on goal (by Armand Gnanduillet, Mahamadou Drammeh, Thomas Fontaine, Corentin Jean and Issouf Macalou) while on the Clermont side, Jérémy Jacquet, Yoann Magnin and Damien Da Silva hit the mark, but after… Mehdi Baaloudj saw his attempt rejected by Mathieu Patouillet.
Sochaux-Clermont was played under snow showers in Bonal (photo Maxime FOURNIER / FFF).
Thionville Lusitanos – Valenciennes FC: 2-2 (4 tab 5)
In Thionville, it was Valenciennes who scored in the first quarter of an hour through Makabi Lilepo, lying in wait in the area (0-1). The Northerners had the match well in hand and created several clear chances through Makabi Lilepo (32nd) then Mathias Oyewusi (33rd), while a shot from Jordan Poha hit Alexis Zimmermann's bar. But it was only 1-0 at the break and anything was possible.
From the 48th, Michael Omosanya found the fault on a corner for Thionville (1-1) but Valenciennes got back in front in the 73rd thanks to Lucas Woudenberg, well found by Rémy Boissier on a free kick (1-2). Additional time was almost over when Jules Vitalaux tied the two teams and sent Thionville to penalties (90th+6, 2-2).
After four converted shots on goal from both sides, Amine Groune missed the target for Thionville while Daouda Traoré saw his shot released by Zimmermann. 4-4, we had to continue. Cachito Wanduka found the bar and Rémy Boissier, the VA captain, qualified the northern club.
FC Marmande – Le Mans: 0-7
Resident of R2, Marmande could have been the Little Thumb of the 16th finals, but for that, it would have been necessary to leave Le Mans, in difficulty this season in National. The visiting club never gave up the opportunity as it opened the scoring on its first opportunity, through Alexandre Lauray (5th, 1-0). Antoine Rabillard did not leave the slightest hope for the locals by doubling the lead in the 11th minute (2-0), before defender Harold Voyer got involved (33rd, 3-0).
Marmande had no time to recover as Arnold Vula scored the first of his three goals of the afternoon (36th, 4-0). The next two were scored at the start of the second half (49th, 5-0 and 54th, 6-0) before Dame Gueye replaced him. Finally, Jérémie Matumona closed the scoring (84th, 7-0).
Harold Voyer scored the third goal for Le Mans at Marmande (Photo Loïc COUSIN / ICON SPORT)
Saint Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu – QRM: 0-2
Isaac Tshipamba will remember this match played at the Jean-Léveillé stadium in Challans, in Vendée. While Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu (National 3) held out for more than eighty minutes against QRM, it was he who burst forward to score twice: in the 82nd minute, launched from deep by Lenny Pirringuel, he won his duel against goalkeeper Marcelin Gohier (1-0). And five minutes later, he received a cross from Noah Adekalom to ensure the result in favor of the Normans (87th, 2-0). Previously, the Leopards had shown themselves threatening by Yassin Fortuné, whose shot had found the post of the Vendée goalkeeper (57th), while the QRM goalkeeper, Pierre Patron, had waited until the 47th minute to intervene on a threatening back cross . As for Tshimpaba, author of four goals in eleven National matches this season, he brings his total to six.
It took QRM (in red) eighty-two minutes to find the breakthrough against Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu (in yellow) (Photo Philippe LE BRECH / APL / FFF).
