PSG squeeze through but Lyon dumped out in French Cup 'tragedy'

There was no such reprieve for Lyon, however, who were sent crashing out when they were beaten 4-2 on penalties by another fifth-tier team Bourgoin-Jallieu. With Espaly moving the game to the Stade Marcel-Michelin in Clermont-Ferrand, home of the far more famous rugby team, PSG struggled from the start, conceding a goal in the third minute to Kevis Gjeci.

The Parisians levelled through Warren Zaire-Emery eight minutes before half time before Desire Doue put the champions in front in the 67th minute. That should have been it but Maxence Fournel equalised for the part-timers four minutes later, raising the prospect of a penalty shootout lottery.

Barcola, however, broke Espaly hearts, when he put PSG ahead in the 88th minute with Ramos sealing their passage four minutes later from the penalty spot.

PSG coach Luis Enrique congratulated his opposite number Lionel Vaillant and his team but criticised the quality of the pitch. "I'm not looking for excuses but we played on a rugby pitch, with the ball bouncing all over the place," he said.

"We need to be able to play everywhere and we're delighted that this competition exists, but for everyone's sake, the conditions need to be better."

 

January 15, 2025

'Neither pride nor honour'

Lyon were the side that lost to PSG in last season's final but Pierre Sage's side sputtered through the 90 minutes against Bourgoin-Jallieu which finished 2-2, before they failed completely in the shoot-out. Lyon are the first Ligue 1 side to be knocked out by a team from the fifth tier since Bordeaux lost to Ile Rousse in 2014

"We showed neither pride nor honour," said Lyon coach Sage. "We're going to have to face up to the shame in front of those close to us, the people who love the club and our directors. It's almost a tragedy." The heroes for Bourgoin-Jallieu were Mehdi Moujetzky, who scored both goals for the semi-professionals in normal time, and goalkeeper Ronan Jay who saved two penalties in the shootout.

Moujetzky put his side ahead after 20 minutes and scored his second in the 69th to level the scores after Nemanja Matic and Georges Mikautadze appeared to have put Lyon, who are sixth in Ligue 1, en route for the last 16. Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso both missed penalties in the shoot-out to send Bourgoin-Jallieu through.

Two other upsets saw Ligue 2 side Troyes beat Ligue 1's Rennes 1-0 while fourth-tier Cannes knocked out Ligue 2 leaders Lorient 2-1.