Coupe de France: Ten-man Lorient knocked out by Nice
Hosts FC Lorient, who played the second half with ten men, fell against OGC Nice in a penalty shootout on Wednesday evening in the Coupe de France quarterfinals. Catch up on the match with our recap.
Pagis sees red on the stroke of halftime
The second of four Coupe de France quarterfinals to be played this midweek, FC Lorient welcomed OGC Nice for a match that had the chance to be redemptive for their respective seasons. Lorient had by and large exceeded expectations this season, comfortably avoiding the relegation battle and seeing the emergence of the impressive Arsene Kouassi and Arthur Avom. With a chance to celebrate the club's centenary with a major trophy, manager Olivier Pantaloni fielded a strong side.
Nice's season has been rather more uneven, with Franck Haise having been dismissed and the club being an afterthought in Europe. Under Claude Puel, though, the team have looked sharper, with loan signing Elye Wahi impressing alongside the team's academy products. For this trip to Brittany, Les Aiglons would be without Wahi, though, as well as experienced players like Sofiane Diop and Hicham Boudaoui.
The beginning of the half was marked with plenty of caution with only an effort from range for Pablo Pagis (10'). A dozen minutes later, Pagis had a free kick in a good position, and his effort grazed the upright, but neither side would come closer in the first 45 minutes. Pagis, who had been the most dangerous player for other side in the first half would then see himself sent off after VAR reviewed a challenge he made on Charles Vanhoutte, leaving the match level at the break, but Les Merlus with 45 minutes to play with ten men.
On est entré dans les quinze dernières minutes et le score est toujours de 0-0. #FCLOGCN pic.twitter.com/JmmVRREbcH
— FC LORIENT 🐟 (@FCLorient) March 4, 2026
Nice prevail in the shootout
After the break, Nice appeared with renewed intent, with Puel having brought on Tom Louchet and Mohamed-Ali Cho. The first chance, however, would fall to the hosts, but Bamba Dieng put his effort wide (50'). It wasn't until midway through the half that Nice would fashion a decent chance, struggling as they did to break down Lorient's low block, but Jonathan Clauss would fire wide (68'), leaving the match scoreless. In added time, Clauss would have another effort, but a diving save by Bingourou Kamara kept out the French international, and the match headed to penalties.
In the shootout, Nice nearly came unstuck when they missed two of their first three efforts, with Kamara saving from youngster Gabin Bernardeau and Louchet failing to even get his effort on target. With the shootout knotted at three all, Avom hit the bar, though, and the match would go to sudden death. With the shootout tied at five apiece, Yehvann Diouf would save from Bamo Meïté and Nice had secured a place in the semifinals!
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