Ten-man Nancy claim League Cup

Brazilian striker Kim scored the decisive goal as ten-man AS Nancy-Lorraine claimed a 2-1 victory against Nice OGC in the French League Cup final to book a place in next season's UEFA Cup.

Attacking selection
Kim, who was surprisingly fielded alongside Moncef Zerka in the Nancy attack, justified his selection with a powerful header midway through the second half, just three minutes after Pablo Correa's side had been reduced to ten men when Sébastien Puygrenier was sent off. Nice responded with vigour, surging forward in search of an equaliser but Nancy held on for the second major trophy in their history.

Eerie coincidence
In an eerie coincidence, the first, the 1977/78 French Cup, also came after a victory against Nice in the final, and the omens with them, Nancy started strongly at a packed Stade de France. After bossing the opening stages, Zerka broke the deadlock midway through the first half, tapping in after Hugo Lloris failed to hold on to Pascal Bérenguer's strike. It was only the second goal Nice had conceded in an impressive cup run but they responded well.

Vahirua equaliser
David Bellion's free-kick was the only real chance they had to show for the first half, however, but three minutes after the restart Marama Vahirua equalised after Bakari Koné's run had prised open the Nancy defence. Puygrenier's dismissal then raised hopes of turning the tables completely, but Correa's team had different ideas.