Surprised from the start: a goal from Mohamed Ben Fredj, scored in the 3rd minute, allowed the Puy-en-Velay club to bring down Lucien Favre's team, already struggling in Ligue 1 (11th).
The Puy player found the opening with a shot from the left at ground level.
Thereafter, the Aiglons generally dominated the match, especially after half-time, but without finding an opening against a formation which had however only won twice at home out of its last eight receptions in the league (two draws , four losses).
The Niçois however missed the opportunity to equalize by Nicolas Pépé after a cross shot from Sofiane Diop (31), but also by Khephren Thuram whose shot, diverted by goalkeeper Jonathan Millieras hit the post without Diop being able to resume victoriously the ball (64).
At the end of the game, Gaëtan Laborde, who entered during the game, in place of Ross Barkley (65), also had the equalizer at the end of the foot on a volley diverted by Millieras (81), the Altiligerian goalkeeper still vigilant.
For their part, the Ponots, led by two former Lyon players, Roland Vieira, the coach, and his assistant, Florent Balmont, who also played in Nice (152 matches), could have doubled the gap on a free kick by Maxence Rivera pushed back by Kasper Schmeichel (71).
In 2021, Le Puy had already eliminated another Ligue 1 team, Lorient, in the round of 16.
© 2023 AFP