In addition to Lyon’s victory over Lille (2-1) a little earlier and the meeting between PSG and Brest, four matches were played this Wednesday evening in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France. Nice notably defeated Montpellier (1-4) while Strasbourg got rid of Le Havre (3-1). In the other matches, the great adventure of Saint-Priest came to an end after the defeat against the red lantern of Ligue 2 Valenciennes (1-2). In the last match, the National 2 club Le Puy beat Laval (Ligue 2) and continues its magnificent epic (2-1).
Strasbourg produced a diligent match without leaving Le Havre a chance (3-1) to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France on Wednesday at the Meinau stadium.
Racing was able to be enterprising in the first period then patient in the second in order to return to the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time since the 2017-2018 season against Le Havre who remained in five matches without defeat in all competitions and a final interesting draw (1-1) in Monaco on Sunday in Ligue 1. For this round of 16, Patrick Vieira had chosen to keep his usual starters on the pitch and in particular his attacking midfielder Dilane Bakwa, scorer against Paris on Friday, who scored the first goal of the match with a shot between the legs of Mathieu Gorgelin, after a fortunate assist from the Brazilian Angelo (21st).
The former Bordeaux player was not far from doubling the lead with a curling shot (24th) but Le Havre, despite their defensive generosity, equalized before the half-hour mark after a poor recovery from Thomas Delaine exploited by Samuel Grandsir, whose cross from the right was taken by Jordan Ayew with a header at the near post (28th).
Strasbourg, which clearly took the lead in midfield and on the sides, logically took control of the game with a cross shot from Emanuel Emegha (36th), served on the edge of offside by the untenable Bakwa, scorer and passer as in the previous round in Clermont. The expulsion (80th) of Daler Kouziaev, author of a gross foul on Emegha, further complicated the HAC’s task. Conversely, the Alsatians sealed the score through Marvin Senaya at the end of the match (90th), resuming their momentum of six matches without defeats interrupted last Friday by Paris Saint-Germain, and continuing their adventure in the Cup .
Nice did not tremble to reach the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France by winning (4-1) on Wednesday in Montpellier, which now only has to remain in Ligue 1 as its objective. In ten minutes, at the end of the first half hour, the Aiglons scored three goals by Youssouf Ndayishimiye, the young Tom Louchet and Mohamed-Ali Cho to take a big step towards their qualification, before adding a 4th anecdotal goal by Claude-Maurice (62nd).
The Niçois continue to pursue a double objective: the race for qualification in the Champions League and their adventure in the Coupe de France. After eliminating two Ligue 2 clubs: Auxerre and Bordeaux, the Riviera Dauphins of Paris SG raised the bar to win on the pitch of a Ligue 1 club for the first time since their victory at Clermont (0-1 ) at the end of October, during the 10th day of Ligue 1.
Nice, with a reshuffled team, sanctioned the good intentions of Montpellier after a balanced first half hour. In ten minutes, Italian technician Farioli’s team, not known for its efficiency, scored three goals. A powerful strike from Burundian defensive midfielder Youssouf Ndayishimiye (29th) flew into the top corner and broke the deadlock in the match. Then, the young defender Tom Louchet (37th), once again established in the Coupe de France, and one of the winter recruits, the striker Mohamed-Ali Cho (39th) took advantage of the laxity of the Omeragic-Sagnan central defense to add two other goals. One with a flat-footed shot, the other with a twenty-meter shot.
Trailing by three goals against the best defense in Ligue 1 (11 goals conceded), Montpellier, without Savanier and Khazri replaced at the break, changed nothing in this match and even conceded a new goal on a penalty from the attacker Alexis Claude-Maurice (62nd). At the end of a dark evening, young center forward Junior Ndiaye even missed a penalty (74th), just before new defender Modibo Sagnan scored the only Hérault goal (75th). A goal which does not alleviate either his disappointment or his concern.
Facing 4th in Ligue 2, Laval, Le Puy football 43 (National 2) succeeded in the magnificent operation of the evening. The Auvergnats dominated the match head and shoulders and opened the scoring thanks to Meyer (25th). At the end of the game (85th), Tchokounté had tied the two teams. But Le Puy, with enormous heart and desire, pushed to finally win after a second goal from Meyer from the penalty spot in added time. The dream continues…