Nîmes continue cup adventure
Saturday, February 12, 2005
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AC Ajaccio were knocked out of the French Cup by third division Nîmes Olympique while RC Lens also lost.
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By Chris Burke
AC Ajaccio were knocked out by third-division Nîmes Olympique as LOSC Lille Métropole, looking to win their first French Cup in 50 years, claimed a place in the last 16 tonight at the expense of local rivals RC Lens.
Nîmes shock
The undoubted shock of the fourth round came at Nîmes, where Ajaccio fell in a penalty shoot-out against a side that had already eliminated AS Saint-Etienne. The top-flight side had led their lowly hosts through a Nenad Dzodic strike in the fourth minute but were made to pay for missed chances when Enza Yamissi equalised from the penalty spot with two minutes left. His team-mates proved just as clinical with their shoot-out spot-kicks after extra-time failed to produce a goal.
Odemwingie winner
At Lille - who received the news today that their stadium redevelopment would be delayed for at least seven months Nigeria striker John Utaka put visitors Lens ahead on 16 minutes but Philippe Brunel brought the home side level with a 57th-minute penalty. Midfield player Mathieu Bodmer struck ten minutes later to give Lille the advantage only for Lens to equalise through Daniel Cousin with six minutes remaining. Just as extra-time loomed, fit-again forward Peter Odemwingie jumped highest to head the ball in off a post to send Lille through.
Top-flight rivals
In the day's other all-Ligue 1 meetings, goals from Olivier Monterrubio and Toifilou Maoulida secured a Stade Rennais FC 2-0 victory against French League Cup finalists SM Caen, while Santos gave FC Sochaux-Montbéliard the slenderest of wins at FC Metz.
Monaco through
Javier Saviola claimed a hat-trick in AS Monaco FC's 4-2 win over third-tier outfit FC Libourne Saint-Seurin, as FC Nantes Atlantique won 2-0 away at Olympique de Saumur FC and AJ Auxerre beat fourth-division Vannes OC by the same scoreline and on Friday OGC Nice knocked out Stade de Reims 3-1.
Sunday ties
In Sunday's ties, Toulouse FC welcome Olympique Lyonnais and Paris Saint-Germain FC, under new coach Laurent Fournier, face FC Girondins de Bordeaux.
