Marseille knocked out of French Cup by second division Annecy

Marseille were sensationally knocked out of the French Cup in the quarter-finals on Wednesday as they lost 7-6 on penalties at home to second division outsiders Annecy after a 2-2 draw at tournament favorites Vélodrome. Marseille were heavily favored to go all out and win the competition after defeating Paris Saint-Germain in the previous round, but instead they were knocked out against opponents who had never reached the quarter-finals before. Marseille were ahead at half-time after Jordan Verrout opened the scoring on his 30th birthday, but Annecy equalized in the second half through young Ivorian striker Moise Sahi.

Defender Kevin Mounga then headed in Annecy, and the home side missed an equalizer when Alexis Sanchez saved a penalty, a spot-kick which was awarded for handball after a VAR check.

Yet 10-time French Cup winners Marseille equalized in the 96th minute when teenage substitute Francois Regis Mughe’s cross headed into the net, much to the delight of the home fans.

With no extra time before the final, this meant penalties, but it was Annecy, sitting mid-table in Ligue 2, that won on sudden death when Marseille’s Leonardo Balardi fired a crucial kick wide.

“It was great! That’s why we do this job,” said Annecy coach Laurent Guyot.

“I am happy for the players, many of whom are new to Ligue 2 and whose careers have been a bit chaotic. We will savor it on the home bus.”

Annecy, who were a regional league club a decade ago, now join three top-flight sides in Thursday’s draw for the semi-finals, with Lyon, Nantes and Toulouse having already progressed.

Holders Nantes remain on course to retain the trophy after beating Lens 2-1 earlier on Wednesday, with Andy Delort scoring two penalties for the Canaries.

Toulouse thrashed second division Rodez 6-1 while Lyon beat Ligue 2 side Grenoble 2-1 on Tuesday as they hope to win their first silverware since lifting the French Cup in 2012.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and was auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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