The fairytale stopped in Savoie on Sunday. AS Cuines-La Chambre, the Départemental 2 side that had stunned National 1 club Saint-Priest two weeks earlier, were edged out 1-0 by FC Colombier-Satolas in the fifth round of the Coupe de France.
Cuines-La Chambre had produced one of the competition’s standout shocks by beating opponents six divisions above them, with a midfielder scoring the decisive goal against Saint-Priest. There would be no repeat against Colombier-Satolas, however, as the Régional 3 visitors found the only goal shortly before half-time through Miguel Manette.
Small margins end Savoyard run
The Savoie amateurs stayed in the contest but could not find an equaliser against their Rhône-area opponents. Their elimination brought an end to a brief but memorable cup run for a club competing at the Départemental 2 level.
The fifth round also saw teams from France’s third tier enter the competition. Only Aubagne fell at that stage, losing 1-0 away to nearby Istres, a National 1 club.
Bastia and Caen survive scares
Bastia were pushed all the way by Gazélec Ajaccio in a Corsican derby that was a Ligue 1 fixture barely a decade ago. After a goalless 90 minutes against the National 2 side, Bastia progressed 4-3 on penalties.
Caen also had a difficult afternoon against local opposition. Stade Malherbe eventually beat AG Caen, who play in Régional 1, by 2-1.
Valenciennes, meanwhile, found a much-needed release from their league troubles. Sitting 15th in the 18-team third-tier table, they crushed Départemental 1 club Habarcq 13-0, the biggest victory in the club’s history.
