Sochaux (France) (AFP)

The finalist of the previous edition, Saint-Etienne (L1), yet archi-domineering, fell back into his faults by going to bow (1-0) on the lawn of Sochaux (L2), Thursday during a 32nd of Final of the Coupe de France disputed by polar cold.

As a symbol, it is on a huge defensive error at the very start of the match that ASSE offered the winning goal to Chris Bedia (5th), synonymous for the FCSM qualification for the round of 16.

"We knew that this Saint-Etienne team was superior to us and that we should seize the slightest situation and that's what we did," savored Sochaux technician Omar Daf.

Despite the tenure of Kevin Monnet-Paquet, Arnaud Nordin, Ryad Boudebouz or Timothée Kolodziejczak, the Greens, 15th in Ligue 1, were unable to score a single goal at the Auguste-Bonal Stadium on the very damaged lawn of the 7th in the League 2.

The goalkeeper of the Lionceaux Mehdi Jeannin, usual substitute in the league, made an incredible performance and multiplied the parades, especially at the end of the match.

"It hurts because it is not deserved. We did good things on difficult terrain, unfortunately we offered a situation to this team which took advantage of it," lamented Forézien coach Claude Puel.

The Stéphanois, who had come out of the water last week by recording two wins and a draw in Ligue 1, were sorely lacking in efficiency and will have to try to bounce back in three days during a difficult trip to Rennes.

- Jeannin impassable -

In extreme climatic conditions, with a temperature close to -10 degrees and an even colder feeling, Saint-Etienne complicated the task of entry by offering the opener to Sochaux: on a receding ball, Pape Cissé missed his control and was stolen the ball by Bedia, who beat Stefan Bajic with the flat foot (1-0).

The Foréziens reacted immediately, including two distant strikes but not on target by Arnaud Nordin (7th, 14th).

They then dominated the rest of the first half but struggled to be dangerous.

Cissé tried to redeem himself from his mistake, but his head, on a free kick from Boudebouz, was captured by Jeannin (36th).

After halftime, the same scenario reoccurred with an unchallenged domination of Saint-Etienne, who multiplied the opportunities but lacked precision or fell on an impassable Sochaux goalkeeper.

Jeannin notably won his duels against Anthony Modeste (65th) and Zaydou Youssouf (73rd) or repelled free kicks well shot by Wahbi Khazri (79th, 90th + 2).

And when he was beaten, Adama Niane replaced him by saving a ball on his line (88th).

© 2021 AFP