OM, OL, Lens and Brest are through to the last 16 of the Coupe de France
OM – Hyeres (N2): 2-0
In full swing in L1, four wins in a row, OM is sporting style against Hyères this Saturday afternoon. But these strengths initially played him, with a quick warning for Leo Balerdi, following a flagrant challenge on Benbachir, then an immediate sending off which targeted Éric Bailly, from 15 minutes onwards. The Ivory Coast centre-back stopped Var’s counter-attack by sinking his foot into Moussa Ndiaye’s chest, a rough move which earned him a couple of game suspensions. The Hyères midfielder left on a stretcher and then left the Turcan stadium in an ambulance.
At ten to eleven, Tudor sacrificed Issa Kaboré for Chancel Mbemba, and his team didn’t look feverish. Veretout’s direct free-kick, from the left, ended over the crossbar (25th), a few sparks from Hyéroises (Zerfaoui’s shot, 35th) didn’t worry Ruben Blanco, and after a shot next to Bamba Dieng (to -38) , Cengiz Ünder gets a penalty, at work (45). He was converted by Alexis Sanchez, for his first goal in the Coupe de France, with a greedy harvest (45 + 1).
Timor in the first half, despite the numerical advantage, Hyères was far more attractive early in the second, with a powerful shot from Barty (48) following good work by Yohan Mollo down the left, and most importantly a shot over captain Sahnoune’s post, perfectly placed at the entrance to the surface (55th). Hyères’ luck ran out, and Dieng, who missed everything this Saturday but the toughest, executed the penalty against (71). Disciplined, OM kept waiting for their opponents to make better transitions (Under and Ben Seghir also beat the ball 3-0), and they were helped by the lack of efficiency of the National 2 residents, who were too accurate in the Marseille area.
Lyon-Metz (L2): 2-1
The hierarchy is respected at the Stadio Groupama, where Lyon, eighth in L1, won (2-1) against Metz, sixth in L2. Not at all worried in the first half, OL, who was recognized as dominating, still struggled to increase his pace. But he still had chances, including two very clear ones: one on a free kick, Caqueret hit the bar (18), and another in the game, where Moussa Dembélé was involved in a perfect serve from Tetê (20). The latter also tried his luck (39th), but like Barcola (34th), he faced a wary Oukidja.
At the start of the second half, Messins was more of a threat, through Mikautadze (47) then Maïga (56). And they were able to reply to Lyon’s opener – signing Barcola with the right foot (60), thus scoring his first professional goal – thanks to a superb 20-metre strike in the top corner of Jallow (64). But even if Candé was unlucky on the decisive goal, scoring against his side with a header from Lukeba (77) following a corner from Cherki which was turned in by Argentine world champion Tagliafico who entered the game, Lorrains ultimately bowed logically. And in a non-phew end on their part, OL was able to push a huge relief “phew”!
Linas-Monthléry (N3) – Lens: 0-2
Runner-up PSG in Ligue 1 (four points behind), RC Lens serious to get into the Coupe de France, out of the trap set by Linas-Montlhéry (N3) in the difficult yard of Bondoufle (Essonne), thanks to good coaching from Franck Haise (2-0).
Dominating throughout, Racing made the difference late on, with the introduction of Seko Fofana and Florian Sotoca in the 60th minute. Fofana opened the scoring following a shot on goal from Julien Le Cardinal’s first tenure with Lens (72), before becoming the decisive provider. for Florian Sotoca (79).
With a heavily overhauled starting lineup – with first terms for Jean-Louis Leca, Ismaël Boura, Rémy Labeau Lascary and Le Cardinal – Lens did not falter despite Linas-Montlhéry’s (N3) consistent performance, accustomed to exploits in the recent Cut many years. Haise managed to play well considering the match in Strasbourg on Wednesday (9pm), and David Pereira Da Costa was able to test his right shoulder with half an hour playing.
Avranches (N) – Brest: 0-2
Failing to be both brilliant and efficient, Brestois delivered the essentials this Saturday afternoon in Avranches (N), by claiming qualification (2-0), late on, for their 16th Coupe de France final. Shaken from the start, particularly by their swirling one-handed attacks, they know how to react to gradually establish a fairly clear dominance.
But it was marred by too many technical guesses, whose absence at kick-off cannot be fully explained: Marco Bizot (rest), Romain Del Castillo (calf), Mathias Pereira Lage (ankle) as well as Brendan Chardonnet, Franck Honorat and Mahdi Camara ( on the bench).
For his first at the helm of Finistère’s team (17th and first relegation in Ligue 1), Eric Roy then set up Joaquin Blazquez in goal, Kenny Lala, finally through, in the side position had to, and Karamoko Dembélé in right-midfielder. But it was captain Pierre Lees-Melou, at the far post following a corner from Franck Honorat (74), then Axel Camblan with a fine shot (90 + 4), who provided the essentials.
