Giants humbled in French Cup

Le Championnat giants AJ Auxerre and Lille OSC were knocked out of the Coupe de France by amateur sides on Saturday.

Disaster for Auxerre
First division Saint-Priest staggered Auxerre by winning a penalty shoot-out 5-3 while LOSC, who qualified for round four of the UEFA Cup last week, lost 2-0 at fourth division Libourne-Saint-Seurin. Auxerre’s match had ended goalless although Djibrill Cisse hit the post for the first division side two minutes from time, but LOSC had no excuses as goals in either half from Javier Delgado and midfielder Yann Dobo earned an emphatic victory for Libourne.

'All of us should resign'
Furious LOSC coach Vahid Halilhodzic offered no excuses for his side’s wretched performance, telling reporters: "Tonight, I'm ashamed. We were ridiculous and our defeat is a professional blunder. All of us should resign starting with myself.”

Monaco pushed
Seventh division Saint-Leu-la-Foret gave Olympique de Marseille their share of problems but goals from Brazilian midfield player Andre Luiz and Frank Leboeuf saw the top-flight side earn a 2-0 win and a place in the second round. Meanwhile, AS Monaco FC were taken into extra time by fourth division Vesoul before midfield player Marcello Gallardo scored in the 104th minute to give them a 3-2 win.

Blushes spared
Stade Rennais FC had a similarly traumatic evening and it took a 119th-minute goal from Olivier Monterrubio to earn them a 1-0 win against fourth division Balma. There was more misery for league champions FC Nantes Atlantique as they lost 3-1 against SC Bastia, with coach Raynald Denoueix concluding: "We are too fragile at the moment. It's not normal for us to lose our game like this.”

Heurtebis saves Troyes
Espérance Sportive Troyes AC had goalkeeper Tony Heurtebis to thank for their place in the second round after he saved three spot kicks in a shoot-out after their game with OGC Nice ended in a 0-0 draw to earn them a 2-0 victory on penalties, but Olympique Lyonnais had no such problems as they crushed fifth division Saint-Malo 6-0.

Bordeaux maul Frejus
It was a similar score for FC Girondins de Bordeaux as they flattened Frejus with Pedro Pauleta scoring four, and Paris Saint-Germain FC overcame sixth division Lucon with goals from Agostinho and Mickel Arteta earning them a 2-0 win.