Coupe de la Ligue: Dijon sting Paris Saint-Germain while Montpellier dumped
PSG crash out
Newly-promoted Ligue 1 outfit Dijon FC hosted giants Paris Saint-Germain at the Stade Gaston http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gerard-c14664 in Coupe de La Ligue round of 16.
In a shocking turn of events, Les Parisiens took an early two goal lead but Dijon showed a lot of character and dumped the favourites out of the competition through an inspirational performance by Brice Jovial.
Since the opening day of the new campaign, PSG had not lost a single game in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899 and confidence was high ahead of the game against an un-fancied Dijon side.
Antoine Kombouare decided to rest http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Javier-Pastore-c18082 and Nene in order to give the fringe players a chance to prove themselves. PSG made a great start and inevitably, took control of proceedings thanks to goals from Jean-Christophe Bahebeck and
Mevlut Erding in the 16th and 20th minutes respectively.
Though Dijon were shaken by conceding early goals in the first quarter of the game, the side refused to back down and with Brice Jovial leading from the front, Dijon kept their shape.
The Guadeloupian first won a penalty kick when he was bundled on the floor by defender http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Diego-c11058 Lugano. Former Paris Saint-Germain player Younousse Sankhare stepped up to take the penalty kick and easilt converted it to make the score 2-1 in the 30th
minute.
Soon, Dijon would draw level when an accurate cross from Brice Jovial was converted in the goal from close range by Florin Berenguer in the 32nd minute.
After inspiring his team to comeback in the game, it was fitting that Brice Jovial had the last say on the outcome of the game. Perhaps, the decision of pointing to the spot was a bit harsh when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Zoumana-Camara-c38101 seemed to have handled the ball. Nonetheless,
the Guadeloupian stepped up to take the kick and gave Dijon an unexpected lead in the 61st minute to cap of a brilliant individual display infront of the home crowd.
Antoine Kombouare, in a bid to save the game, brought in Nene and Gameiro in the last 20 minutes of the game as PSG laid siege on the Dijon goal. The visitors were unlucky for not levelling the game as two shots hit the post.
However, to give full credit to the home side, Dijon stuck in resolutely and recorded their biggest victory of the season and moved into the last eight of the Coupe de la Ligue.
Montpellier dumped
Stade de la Mosson saw another game of the round of 16 of the Coupe de la Ligue in which Lorient hosted last year’s runner-ups Montpellier.
Lorient had made a long trip to Brittany and made a good start to the game. Their pressure was rewarded when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ifeanyi-Emeghara-c16650 gave Les Merlus the lead in the 14th minute.
The night got even more complicated for Alain Casanova’s side when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Garry-Bocaly-c14429 received his second yellow card of the game in the 55th minute. Club’s topscorer, Olivier Giroud came in the second half and the Frenchman continued his great goalscoring
form when he brought the two sides level in the 65th minute.
However, Lorient were not to be denied of a well-deserved victory. Christian Gourcuff introduced on loan http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Joel-Campbell-c18716 who scored the winner in the 69th minute as Lorient progressed to the quarterfinal of the competition.
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