Fourth-tier club upset Toulouse to reach French Cup semis
PARIS: Mathieu Guillaud led 4th-tier Rumilly-vallières into the semifinals of the French Cup with a 2-0 upset win over second-division Toulouse on Tuesday.
Toulouse, which is on track for promotion to the top division, was let down by their defense.
Rumilly-vallières captain Alexis Peuget floated in a free kick that goalkeeper Isak Petersson failed to reach before Guillaud headed the underdogs into a 19th-minute lead.
Guillaud forced the second goal too, scoring via young Toulouse defender Anthony Rouault’s chest to seal the result in the 83rd.
“We are 90 minutes away from the Stade de France, said their coach Fatsah Amghar referring to the final. Let’s see who we draw now, we’re hoping for a big fish.”
“Why not PSG,” Rumilly striker Glody Liongo said of his semi-final dreams.
But the team from the Upper Savoy mountainous region near the Italian and Swiss borders Rumilly Vallieres could find themselves with familiar foes in the draw for the semis if another fourth-tier team.
Their win provides a refreshing reminder of the joys of open competition at a time when a group of elite clubs have announced plans to organise a closed shop European Super League.
Meanwhile, ten-man Montpellier also reached the semifinals but had to work hard to beat fourthtier Canet Roussillon FC 2-1.
Brazilian defender Hilton - the Montpellier captain - was sent off for hauling down Jean Vercruysse in the 23rd. Toufik Ouadoudi scored in off the post with the resultant penalty for Canet.
Andy Delort, who took the captain’s armband fromhilton,equalizedwhencanet’sdefenseswitched off for a Montpellier free kick in the 59th, and he scored the winner from the penalty spot late on.
Canet caused a big upset by knocking out Marseille earlier in the competition.
Defending champion Paris Saint-germain plays Angers, and Monaco visits Lyon in the other quarterfinals. PSG are hot favourite to win the title as they have dominated the French football of late. With the backing of their Qatari owners, PSG have assembled a star-studded squad, who are simply unstoppable in France.