It must be believed that the cold which raged at Roudourou on Tuesday evening had numbed them. Because it did not take more than a quarter of an hour of play for the Sochaliens to cool the atmosphere even further.
An unfortunate corner conceded by Lemonnier, a cross from Peirera De Sa and Fontaine, with a volley, opened the scoring against all expectations (0-1, 12'). While Karim Mokedem's team, focused more on the championship than on the Coupe de France, had left most of its executives at home, the surprise was therefore great to see it in front and upset a team which was coming out of a convincing victory in Annecy (4-1). Because without a great Babacar Niasse, decisive until the penalty shootout, the EAG would not have come out of it.
Guingamp led twice
The Bretons, who wanted to make the match easy, did just the opposite. And although they had both possession and the best chances, they often came up against Patouillet, like Ourega (23', 37'). Weighed down by a lack of accuracy and by too messy initiatives, Sylvain Ripoll's men still ended up equalizing when Riou, from a corner, took advantage of a poorly returned ball into the area (1-1, 38').
The hardest part was done. Except no. While Luvambo stumbled once again on the last Sochaux rampart (45'), a disagreement between Riou and Lemonnier, after Ourega lost the ball, benefited Gnanduillet who allowed his team to get back in front just before half-time (1-2, 45'). A funny scenario, therefore, for Guingamp residents who aspired to everything but that.
Niasse, at the last second
But they pushed and Guendouz, coming off a small ball from Picard, allowed En Avant to come back once again (2-2, 59'). Two goals but very relative efficiency in the light of enormous situations which were repeated in front of Patouillet's goal.
Because there was often a foot, a mistake or a little something to prevent the Costarmoricans from finally achieving something. Deprived of Sissoko, sent off for a foul as the last defender, they could even have been punished a third time if Niasse, on his line, had not made a save against Mukanya at the very last second (90'+ 6 ). Decisive, the Guingamp goalkeeper will also be decisive during the endless penalty shootout by stopping three Sochaux attempts (9-8).
The technical sheet
Arbitrator : Mr. Gaillouste.
Spectators : 3 951.
-BUTS. Guingamp: Riou (38'), Guendouz (59'); Sochaux: Fontaine (12'), Gnanduillet (45').
Warnings. Guingamp: Sidibé (90'+5); Sochaux: Patouillet (29').
Penalties. Guingamp: Louiserre (scored), Siwé (scored), Hemia (missed), Sidibé (scored), Riou (missed), Lemonnier (scored), Maronnier (scored), Nair (scored), Mendes (scored), Niasse (scored ), Louiserre (marked); Sochaux: Michel (missed), Fontaine (scored), Dacosta (scored), Joseph (missed), Mayela (scored), Mukanya (scored), Bayanginisa (scored), Loubao (scored), Kotto Kotto (scored), Patouillet ( marked), Fontaine (missed)..
EXCLUSION. Guingamp : Sissoko (85’).
GUINGAMP : Niasse – Sissoko, Riou, Lemonnier, Ourega (Maronnier, 64') – Guendouz (Sidibé, 71'), Louiserre (c.), Hemia, Picard (Mendes, 71') – Luvambo (Siwe, 64'), Labeau (Nair, 87'). Coach: S. Ripoll. Not entered: Bartouche (g.), Gomis, Phiri, Touzghar.
SOCHAUX : Patouillet – Dacosta, Fontaine (c.), Mayela – Macalou (Loubao, 64'), Bayanginisa, Pereira De Sa (Joseph, 64'), Michel, Silva (N'Gatta, 75') – Lecolier (Kotto Kotto, 75'), Gnanduillet (Mukanya, 72'). Coach : K. Mokeddem. Not entered: Pierre (c.), Ouammou, Ba, Mendes.
France