Football: Minnows Carquefou slay high-fliers in French Cup 04/02/2008 00:00

Fifth division outfit Carquefou produced a huge French Cup shock Sunday, knocking out first division high-fliers Nancy

   PARIS, Feb 4, 2008 - Fifth division outfit Carquefou produced a huge
French Cup shock Sunday, knocking out first division high-fliers Nancy to
reach the last 16, while league leaders Lyon avoided a similar fate with a
narrow win over a fourth division side.
   After a goalless 90 minutes at Carquefou the match came to life in
extra-time when, instead of Nancy's superior fitness proving decisive, their
hosts from a small northwestern town shocked them by first taking the lead,
then going back in front after the professionals had levelled.
   Laurent Delanoe opened the scoring after 101 minutes of hard-fought action
which had seen Nancy look nothing like the side standing third in the French
table and dreaming of possible participation in the Champions League next
season.
   They emerged from their slumber briefly when Marc-Antoine Fortune levelled
inside four minutes with a fortuitous lob, just before the end of the first
period of extra-time.
   But if the first division side thought they had earned at least a replay
Sebastien Le Paih had other ideas and netted the winner with three minutes to
go at a Stade du Moulin-Bousseau packed with 3,000 fans.
   "It's a shock," said Carquefou coach Denis Renaud.
   "It will take a few days to sink in. Now we're just three matches away from
the Stade de France (which will host the final."
   Nancy coach Pablo Correa slammed his side.
   "We didn't deserve any better and I have to congratulate Carquefou. They
wanted it more than we did."
   In an all-first division encounter, ten-time winners Marseille saw off
neighbours Monaco 3-1 at the Stade Velodrome where new signing from Caen,
Elliot Grandin set up the opener for Mathieu Valbuena before hitting a
sumptuous second inside the opening ten minutes.
   Djibril Cisse, on a hot streak after his up-and-down Liverpool adventure,
bagged the third before Djamel Bakar netted a consolation.
   Lyon meanwhile thanked a goal ten minutes from time by Brazilian Fred as
the league leaders edged out fourth division Croix de Savoie 1-0.
   On Saturday, Ivorian striker Amara Diane scored a brace as Paris Saint
Germain made it into the last 16 by ending the dreams of fifth division Le
Poire-sur-Vie, 3-1 away, while holders Sochaux also advanced, on penalties,
against Montpellier.
   Another fifth division side, Lyon-Duchere lost out to the only goal, scored
for top flight Lille by Nicolas Fauvergue.

AFP