Brive send holders crashing

Holders AJ Auxerre were knocked out of the Coupe de France as fourth division side ESA Brive secured an unexpected 1-0 victory in the third round.

Brive breakththrough
The Ligue 1 club had not conceded a goal in their nine previous games this year but defender Manuel Debat broke through Auxerre's defence eight minutes after half-time to score the only goal of the game.

Shoot-out setback
Auxerre's only previous defeat in 2004 had been in the Coupe de Ligue semi-finals last week when FC Nantes Atlantique won on penalties after the game had ended goalless.

Strike disallowed
However, despite their impressive recent form, Guy Roux's high-flying side – currently second in Ligue 1 - struggled from kick-off in front of 14,000 Brive supporters. French international striker Djibril Cissé had the ball in the net two minutes before half-time but his strike was disallowed for offside.

Cissé cancelled out
After falling behind, Auxerre remained unable to find a way to break down their lower-league opponents. Cissé had another effort ruled out two minutes from time, but that was as close as the top-flight club came.

PSG progress
In contrast, Paris Saint-Germain FC – who lost to Auxerre in last season's final – were 2-0 victors at another fourth division team, Aviron Bayonnais FC. The home side has knocked out first division EA Guingamp and FC Girondins de Bordeaux in previous rounds, but could not repeat the trick a third time.

Fine volley
Bayonne performed stoutly once again, and it was not until the 69th minute that PSG made the breakthrough. Striker Fabrice Fiorèse finally broke the deadlock with a spectacular volley, and Portuguese forward Pauleta doubled the lead eleven minutes later, both from crosses by Argentinian
full-back Juan Pablo Sorín.

High-profile game
The remaining six third-round ties are played on Wednesday, with the highlight Ligue 1 leaders AS Monaco FC's meeting with champions Olympique Lyonnais.