|
Sochaux stunned Marseille to reach the Coupe de la Ligue quarterfinals with a 4-3 penalty shootout win following a 1-1 draw. Sochaux, the only surviving team from outside the top flight, are fighting for promotion in Ligue 2 and they showed their battling qualities by fighting back to draw level after going a goal down to Bouna Sarr's strike. Moussa Sao equalised after 36 minutes when he curled a shot past former Sochaux goalkeeper Yohann Pele. With the tie still level after 90 minutes it went to penalties. Florian Tardieu was denied by Pele with Sochaux's first kick but Christopher Dilo -- usually Sochaux's third-choice goalkeeper -- saved penalties from Doria and Aaron Leya Iseka, allowing Goran Karanovic to convert the winning kick. In Tuesday night's other last-16 tie, Sergio Conceicao made a winning start as Nantes head coach as his side beat Montpellier 3-1. Avoiding relegation is the main remit for Conceicao but the Portuguese will be pleased to reach the last eight in the cup. Emiliano Sala put Nantes in front but a superb 25-yard strike from Kevin Berigaud had the visitors level before half-time. However, Sala headed his second goal of the night and sixth of the season to restore the lead before Mariusz Stepinski gave Nantes a two-goal cushion. The hosts had to hold on, though, after Abdoulaye Toure was shown a straight red card for a challenge on debutant Pierrick Fito late on.
|
