PARIS: Rouen maintained their strong run in the French Cup with defeat of eight-time winners AS Monaco in the last 16 on Thursday.

The third division side knocked out holders Toulouse in a marathon penalty shoot-out in the last round.

And spot-kicks decided this encounter too, with Rouen felling Ligue 1 Monaco 6-5 after the teams were all square at 1-1 after extra time.

Striker Folarin Balogun put Monaco ahead in the 35th minute from the penalty spot. Monaco couldn’t hold on to their one goal advantage for long as Rouen’s centre back Clement Bassin draw the scores level deep in the first half.

Monaco kept searching for the winner but couldn’t get past the determined Roun’s defence as the match went to penalties.

In the shootout, Rouen goalkeeper Leonard Aggoune was the hero of the hour, saving two peanlties to book Rouen a last-eight date at home to Valenciennes at the end of the month.

Paris St-Germain host Nice, Olympique Lyonnais face RC Strasbourg and fourth-tier Le Puy take on Rennes in the other quarter-finals scheduled for Feb 27 and 28.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2024