Valenciennes (AFP)
Two penalties, a goal against and a long shot allowed Metz (L1) to easily win (4-0) at Valenciennes (L2), Saturday in the Round of 16 of the Coupe de France.
A result in line with the hierarchy and the balance of power on the ground, at the end of a match that could have had a completely different scenario.
After only 3 minutes, Valenciennes had the opportunity to open the scoring from the penalty spot after a foul by Fabien Centonze on Kevin Cabral.
But the attempt of Gaëtan Robail, full axis at half height, was taken out of the foot by Marc-Aurèle Caillard.
In the process, Robail was again highlighted negatively by hanging Youssef Maziz's leg in the box.
New penalty, for Metz this time, sent under the bar by Centonze (1-0, 7th).
Robail then missed a huge opportunity to equalize after a failed dribble from Centonze in his area (9th), before the Lorrainers widened the gap thanks to a new penalty.
Mown down by Eric Vandenabeele, Thierry Ambrose did justice to himself with a shot in the side net (2-0, 33rd).
Rarely threatened by a player opponent but in difficulty in the last thirty meters, Metz managed the affair without fear.
Vagner, alone to take over a center from Maziz in the middle of a defense that had stopped playing believing it was offside, worsened the score (3-0, 61st).
And it was finally Sarr, with a long shot entered with the help of the post, who closed the ban (4-0, 89th).
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