gnlvagosov
01-06-2003, 04:34 PM
Racing Strasbourg, winners in 2001, and Troyes were humiliated by small amateur teams on Sunday to bring to nine the number of first division clubs eliminated in the first round of the French Cup.
Strasbourg lost 1-0 at fourth division Bourg-Peronnas and nine-man Troyes went down 3-1 away to Schiltigheim of the fifth division, for whom striker Hinard scored twice.
Sedan were also eliminated, 3-1 on penalties at third division Martigues following a goalless draw after extra time.
Paris St Germain had to fight hard to overcome another third division side, beating Besancon 1-0 after extra time with a goal by defender Lionel Potillon, who unleashed a 25-metre winner in the 111th minute.
Troyes had defender Karl Tourenne sent off in the 70th minute with the score already 2-0 to Schiltigheim and Frederic Adam was dismissed seven minutes from time. Both were shown the red card after their second bookable offences.
Reigning champions Olympique Lyon and five-time winners Monaco were the first to bow out to teams from lower divisions on Saturday in a competition which has traditionally proved to be something of a graveyard for the French elite.
GIANT KILLERS
Lyon slumped to a 1-0 clumsy defeat to fourth division amateurs Libourne Saint-Seurin, giant killers for the second season in a row after reaching the quarter-finals last season.
'We tamed a team which played in the Champions League. We really prepared for this match and even if I'm a bit surprised by the outcome, it was not unexpected at all,' Libourne coach Jean-Marc Furlan said.
Monaco, 2-1 up seven minutes from the end of normal time at second division Wasquehal, were forced into extra time and ended up losing 3-2.
'The guys refused to give in and they believed they could make it until the very last minute,' said Wasquehal coach Herve Gauthier. 'You can only see things like that in the French Cup.'
Also on the casualty list were in-form Nice, Sochaux and Montpellier, who all lost to second division sides on Saturday.
Nice went down 4-2 to Metz at home following a goalless draw after extra-time. It was sweet revenge for Metz, whose relegation last season was determined by Nice's successful appeal against demotion on financial grounds.
Amiens upset Montpellier 5-3 after extra time while Sochaux, reduced to 10 men for an hour, were beaten 2-1 by Grenoble.
Olympique Marseille, record 10-time winners, had a relatively quiet passage to the second round, beating Bastia 2-0 at home in the only tie between two first division clubs.
'This success is a good thing. We are now back on the right track and it's exactly what we were looking for as January is going to be decisive,' Marseille coach Alain Perrin said.
The debacle of the top flight sides in the French Cup followed their failure in European club competition.
Only the young AJ Auxerre side, who won 2-1 at second division Caen on Saturday, are still in the UEFA Cup after RC Lens, Paris St Germain, Girondins Bordeaux and Lyon were all eliminated.
Strasbourg lost 1-0 at fourth division Bourg-Peronnas and nine-man Troyes went down 3-1 away to Schiltigheim of the fifth division, for whom striker Hinard scored twice.
Sedan were also eliminated, 3-1 on penalties at third division Martigues following a goalless draw after extra time.
Paris St Germain had to fight hard to overcome another third division side, beating Besancon 1-0 after extra time with a goal by defender Lionel Potillon, who unleashed a 25-metre winner in the 111th minute.
Troyes had defender Karl Tourenne sent off in the 70th minute with the score already 2-0 to Schiltigheim and Frederic Adam was dismissed seven minutes from time. Both were shown the red card after their second bookable offences.
Reigning champions Olympique Lyon and five-time winners Monaco were the first to bow out to teams from lower divisions on Saturday in a competition which has traditionally proved to be something of a graveyard for the French elite.
GIANT KILLERS
Lyon slumped to a 1-0 clumsy defeat to fourth division amateurs Libourne Saint-Seurin, giant killers for the second season in a row after reaching the quarter-finals last season.
'We tamed a team which played in the Champions League. We really prepared for this match and even if I'm a bit surprised by the outcome, it was not unexpected at all,' Libourne coach Jean-Marc Furlan said.
Monaco, 2-1 up seven minutes from the end of normal time at second division Wasquehal, were forced into extra time and ended up losing 3-2.
'The guys refused to give in and they believed they could make it until the very last minute,' said Wasquehal coach Herve Gauthier. 'You can only see things like that in the French Cup.'
Also on the casualty list were in-form Nice, Sochaux and Montpellier, who all lost to second division sides on Saturday.
Nice went down 4-2 to Metz at home following a goalless draw after extra-time. It was sweet revenge for Metz, whose relegation last season was determined by Nice's successful appeal against demotion on financial grounds.
Amiens upset Montpellier 5-3 after extra time while Sochaux, reduced to 10 men for an hour, were beaten 2-1 by Grenoble.
Olympique Marseille, record 10-time winners, had a relatively quiet passage to the second round, beating Bastia 2-0 at home in the only tie between two first division clubs.
'This success is a good thing. We are now back on the right track and it's exactly what we were looking for as January is going to be decisive,' Marseille coach Alain Perrin said.
The debacle of the top flight sides in the French Cup followed their failure in European club competition.
Only the young AJ Auxerre side, who won 2-1 at second division Caen on Saturday, are still in the UEFA Cup after RC Lens, Paris St Germain, Girondins Bordeaux and Lyon were all eliminated.