The logic was respected. Sochaux’s fairy tale in the Coupe de France ended in the round of 16 this Tuesday evening against Stade Rennais, an easy winner (6-1) thanks in particular to doubles from Arnaud Kalimuendo and Amine Gouiri. Authors of an offensive festival while showing great seriousness, the Rouge et Noir extricated themselves from the trap of the Lion Cubs – carried by a formidable public – and thus validated the first ticket for the quarter-finals.
The step was too high for the Sochaliens. Fourth in the National and in the running for promotion to Ligue 2 while they were on the verge of bankruptcy a few months ago, the Lion Cubs were no longer used to losing. Undefeated since December, they were also starting to believe in their beautiful star in the Coupe de France. After Lorient and Reims, Oswald Tanchot’s players dreamed of beating Rennes. But the suspense only lasted 22 minutes.
An ordeal in the first period
A Breton wave fell on the 5-man defense of Sochaux, who experienced an ordeal in the first period, conceding four goals. The surge can be explained in several ways: the Rennais showed great mastery by recovering the ball very high and using intensity to suffocate the Sochaliens. The latter, who inaugurated a new tactical plan, lacked the experience to plug the gaps. Lonely in the middle about twenty meters away, Amine Gouiri found Mathieu Patouillet’s top corner with a magnificent brushed shot (0-1, 24th).
Guela Doué during Sochaux – Rennes in the Coupe de France
Credit: Getty Images
The Doubiens, caught by the throat, conceded a second then a third goal in 11 minutes. Ibrahim Salah took advantage of a bad recovery in the axis to shoot Patouillet at close range (0-2, 29th) and Arnaud Kalimuendo imitated him by taking a serve from Adrien Truffert in front of the empty goal (0-3, 35th). The ex-Lensois signed a double just before the break (0-4, 42nd). Mass was said, the match was “folded” from the break as Oswald Tanchot conceded.
Rennes prepares well for Europe
The Sochaux coach made four changes at half-time in a bid to prepare for the next National match. We feared a bigger rout when his players conceded a fifth goal, scored by Gouiri after returning from the locker room (0-5, 47th). Despite this failed start, the Cubs showed a different side in the second half. Carried by a copiously packed Auguste-Bonal stadium (19,303 spectators), they saved the honor from the penalty spot through captain Malcolm Viltard (1-5, 65th). Provoking an explosion of joy from their supporters.
Supporters who continued to raise their voices, even after Benjamin Bourigeaud’s sixth goal, the Rennes captain completing his team’s success after a sublime slalom from Désiré Doué (1-6, 81st). Qualified in style for the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France, Rennes had a seventh success and ideally prepared for their Europa League play-off against AC Milan next week at San Siro. The only downside: the Bretons lost Enzo Le Fée at the start of the game, probably due to a muscular problem.