PARIS: Fares Chaibi scored late as Toulouse beat second-tier Annecy 2-1 on Thursday to reach the Coupe de France final.

Chaibi, 20, came off the bench and claimed the 85th minute winner to set up a meeting with Nantes.

The hosts were on the back foot early on against Toulouse, promoted this season.

The visitors made the most of their dominance 10 minutes before the break.

Dutch midfielder Branco van den Boomen broke down the right and Morocco’s Zakaria Aboukhlal headed home low down near the front post for his fourth goal in as many cup game this season.

Annecy’s response came in the fourth minute of first half added time.

Striker Alexy Bosetti was fouled in the box by Gabriel Suazo. The well-travelled 29-year-old converted into the bottom corner from the spot.

With 25 minutes left, Toulouse coach Philippe Montanier replaced Brazilian Rafael Ratao with Chaibi.

With five minutes to go the substitute claimed his side’s place in the final.

He chipped Annecy goa­l­keeper Thomas Callens for a third goal in the competition this season.

The home side thought they had taken the game into extra time but substitute Moise Sahi’s half-volley from 30 metres was ruled out for offside with 90 seconds of the seven minutes of injury time played.

Toulouse held on despite Annecy’s late pressure to secure their first final appearance since winning the cup in 1957.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2023