FC Annecy clinched their place in the next round of the Coupe de France on Friday night, stunning GOAL FC with a dramatic late goal to secure victory 2-1 at the Stade Ludovic Giuly in Chasselay. With this win, FC Annecy avoided the prospect of penalty shootouts, leaving their opponents from National 2 disheartened and yearning for what could have been.
The match kicked off with all the intensity expected at this stage of the prestigious tournament. FC Annecy, currently seated fifth in Ligue 2, struck first with a corner kick taken by Demoncy, leading to Drouhin’s header at the 32nd minute, putting them up 1-0.
Despite seeing their opponents take the lead, GOAL FC, under the guidance of coach Fabien Pujo, displayed resilience and spirit. They regrouped and pushed back against the pressure, eventually equalizing early in the second half when Bennekrouf converted Tanard’s excellent cross with a well-placed header at the 53rd minute, making it 1-1.
After equalizing, the atmosphere shifted, and hopes for both teams intensified as they navigated the tough conditions of the sodden pitch. Annecy managed to assert some dominance but found it tough to convert their chances against GOAL FC’s determined defense.
It seemed the match would end level, sending both teams to penalties. That was until the 93rd minute when, following another promising counter-attack by Annecy and under immense pressure from Djoco, GOAL FC's Tanard inadvertently turned the ball past his goalkeeper Marsella, sealing the fateful 2-1 scoreline.
Coach Laurent Guyot expressed relief at avoiding what he deemed inevitable penalties, saying, "I didn’t feel confidence for the penalties today. I’m glad we managed to finish like this at the last moment." His sentiments post-match reflected not only relief but respect toward his opponents’ efforts and pains.
Fabien Pujo, on the other hand, articulated the torment of such a late twist. He shared, "Overall, we did some good things tonight, but the word 'efficiency' separated us from Annecy. We should have been more clinical with our chances and capitalized before it came to such drama." His frustration was palpable, underscoring the valiant effort by his team who had strived for equal footing throughout the match.
Despite the loss, GOAL FC demonstrated courage and commitment, and Peju's players created numerous scoring opportunities. They had gone knocking on the door several times but failed to find the back of the net adequately. Post-match analysis revealed they lost the game not due to lack of opportunity but rather lack of precision.
FC Annecy celebrated their advancement to the next round of competition, aiming to carry this momentum onward as they look to progress farther within the tournament. For GOAL FC, the focus will revert to their league endeavors; the hope of returning to the Coupe de France stage and finishing strongly within National 2 remains their priority.
This result continues the heartbreak for GOAL FC, which last reached the 16th round back in 2014. For now, they must absorb the lessons learned and prepare for the next chapter of their season, with the primary aim of ensuring continued competitive standing within their division.
