Marseille (AFP)

Olympique de Marseille did not break twice against the same lock, beating Strasbourg (3-1) to reach the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France, Wednesday, four days after stumbling against Angers (0-0 ).

This time, the door did not stay closed. A magnificent goal from Bouna Sarr (32) and a penalty from Dimitri Payet (43 sp) allowed OM to push the quarter gate.

It was necessary to defend in turn once the Racing returned by Benjamin Corgnet (59), but the runner-up of Paris SG in Ligue 1 deserved his victory, confirmed by a goal by Boubacar Kamara on the last against (90 + 5 ).

OM are returning to their virtuous statistics: in their last 13 games, they have won 11, including one on penalties (Granville, 1-1, 4-2 tab) and can always dream of a cup they has not touched since 1989.

The former specialist of the event, overtaken by PSG (12 victory against 10), will play only his fourth quarter-final in 13 seasons, but André Villas-Boas, who dreams of a trophy to mark his passage, is still racing.

Everything was not perfect, but his team found, without his striker Dario Benedetto, spared for his painful Achilles tendon, the solutions that he had missed against the SCO.

- Payet's revenge -

The key is called Bouna Sarr. The match fell asleep a little, not as soporific as against Angers, when the right side sounded a thunderous awakening.

Guinea came to pick him up to join the national team? But with such a goal he could play for Brazil! "Bouna" made two double contacts to erase four Strasbourg defenders before rolling from the left a ball out of reach of Bingourou Kamara.

The small chamber of the Vélodrome (29,589 spectators) exulted, in particular the square of tribune filled by lawyers in dress, who demonstrated against the pension reform under the banner "Marseillais lawyers we will win!"

After waking up, Payet rang the knockout, transforming a penalty for a hand from Lionel Carole in the box.

The N.10 took a personal revenge. Last season against the same opponent, in the League Cup, he had missed two penalties against Bingourou Kamara, one in regular time, one during the series of shots on goal, and Racing had won (1-1, 4-2 tab).

- Red for Ndour -

Another satisfaction, in defense, Jordan Amavi was still rare, decidedly far from the lost player at the start of the season.

Finally Steve Mandanda has again come out of beautiful stops, countering at close range a shot from Ibrahima Sissoko (25). The captain also jumped on the strike of Waris Majeed, the new Alsatian recruit, but he could only push it in the feet of Corgnet, the striker.

On this blow, the goalkeeper was abandoned by his defense, which he copiously yelled at.

After this goal, Strasbourg really started to play. Thierry Laurey's team was diminished by injuries (Djiku, Caci, Mothiba) and by the coach's choice to leave his playmaker Adrien Thomasson, on edge, on the bench.

But the last Alsatian hopes were shattered on the direct red card of Abdallah Ndour who heavily bullied the young Marley Aké by lifting him from an uncontrolled tackle (86). "Bouba" Kamara, on a counter led by Payet, completed the evening.

However, everything did not work at OM, Maxime Lopez, in the middle, again made a pale copy and heard whistles.

Nemanja Radonjic, holder on the right, missed his three opportunities, awkward (2) or magnetized by Kamara (22, 64). The Serb decidedly only scores when he leaves the bench (5 goals). He was not the one who found the key, but the door is open.

© 2020 AFP