Strasbourg Edges Reims with Late Penalties in Coupe de France

Strasbourg secured a dramatic 2-1 victory in the French Cup quarter-final against Reims on Tuesday, thanks to two penalties converted in the final seven minutes.

The Ligue 1 side from Strasbourg created numerous chances against their Ligue 2 opponents, yet the score remained level until the 83rd minute, when a penalty was given after the ball hit the arm of Reims midfielder John Patrick, who holds Spanish-Irish nationality.

Argentine forward Joaquin Panichelli and Paraguayan winger Julio Enciso both approached to take the spot-kick.

Following a brief standoff where neither wanted to yield, the short Argentine midfielder Valentin Barco intervened, guiding Enciso aside.

Panichelli confidently struck the ball straight at the centre of the goal. It hit the underside of the crossbar, dropped down, rebounded up, and lodged in the net as the excited forward sprinted towards the corner flag.

Just four minutes later, David Datro Fofana skilfully evaded two defenders before being fouled by goalkeeper Alexandre Olliero.

With Panichelli now off the pitch, Enciso faced no competition for the penalty, which he powerfully placed down the middle, low along the ground, evading the outstretched Olliero.

This goal elevated Enciso to the tournaments leading scorer with six strikes. He marked the moment by placing a finger to his lips.

"The initial one was mine," Panichelli shared with BeIN Sports afterwards. "I am delighted that he netted the follow-up."

In the dying moments, Patrick Zabi netted a consolation goal for Reims in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Strasbourg advanced to the semi-finals for the first time since 2001, the year they claimed their third Coupe de France title.

With reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain, victors of the past two editions and eight of the last eleven, already out, Toulouse the 2023 winners remain the most recent successful side in the remaining quarter-finalists.

Toulouse face Marseille, who last lifted the trophy in 1989 from their ten victories, on Wednesday, following Lorient versus Nice.

Lens, whose push for the Ligue 1 crown is waning and who have yet to win the cup, travel to Lyon on Thursday.