PARIS: Two goals and two assists from 16-year-old forward Rayan Cherki helped Olympique Lyonnais win 4-3 at Nantes and reach the last 16 of the Coupe de France on Saturday.
But the run of Reunion Islanders JS St Pierroise ended with a 1-0 loss away to Epinal, who scored deep into extra time.
Cherki put Lyon ahead in the first minute, deftly rounding goalkeeper Alban Lafont and then clipping the ball beyond a defender. He made it 2-0 in the ninth, slotting the ball through Lafont’s legs after being set up by right winger Bertrand Traore.
New signing Renaud Emond headed in Moses Simon’s cross from the left to pull a goal back for Nantes in the 16th. Cherki then showed great awareness to release forward Martin Terrier with a fine pass from midfield in the 37th for 3-1.
Cherki shaved the crossbar with a shot in the 60th and won a penalty in the 67th after robbing the ball off Thomas Basila. He generously allowed striker Moussa Dembele to take it, but Lafont saved Dembele’s attempt.
Two minuter later, Cherki threaded the ball down the right to Dembele, who slotted in, and the irrepressible Cherki set up another chance for Terrier.
Lyon’s defense remained vulnerable and Simon set up Imran Louza’s goal before heading in late on to ensure a tense finish.
St Pierroise had caused an upset in the previous round by knocking out second-division Niort and the players again traveled 6,000 miles (around 9,700 kilometers) from the small island in the Indian Ocean, located off the east coast of Africa.
St Pierroise, the former club of France midfielder Dimitri Payet, was looking to become the first club from the Reunion Islands to reach the last 16 and almost forced a penalty shootout, despite having forward Jean-Michel Fontaine sent off in the 15th minute.
But substitute Adel Berkane rifled home a half-volley for fourth-tier Epinal with two minutes left in extra time.
Also, there were wins for first-division sides Nice, Lille, St Etienne and Strasbourg.
Lille won 2-0 at fifth-division Gonfreville thanks to goals from forwards Loic Remy and Victor Osimhen, while coach Patrick Vieira’s Nice side held on to beat third-tier Red Star 2-1.
St Etienne won 3-2 at Paris FC, a team fighting relegation in the second division.
Paris FC led 2-1 with goals from former Paris St Germain forward Jeremy Menez and ex-Rennes winger Jonathan Pitroipa. Teen forward Charles Abi equalised for St Etienne with 20 minutes left before veteran right back Mathieu Debuchy netted the winner.
Strasbourg won 5-1 at fourth-tier Angoulme.
Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2020
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