In a thrilling upset, five-time champions Lyon were ousted from the Coupe de France by Bourgoin-Jallieu, an amateur team from the fifth tier of French football. The match, held in the last 32 of the competition, ended in penalties after a dramatic regular time. Bourgoin-Jallieu's Sofiane Atik secured the victory with a decisive spot-kick, propelling his team into the last 16.
The match began with Bourgoin-Jallieu's Mehdi Moujetzky opening the scoring, stunning Lyon with an early lead. However, Lyon's seasoned player, Nemanja Matic, leveled the score just before the break, bringing hope to the Ligue 1 side. After halftime, Georges Mikautadze pushed Lyon ahead, but Moujetzky struck again to take the match to penalties.
In the penalty shootout, Lyon's key players Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso were unable to convert their chances. Bourgoin-Jallieu's Moujetzky attempted a Panenka but was denied. Nonetheless, it was Sofiane Atik who stepped up and delivered the final blow, sending Bourgoin-Jallieu into the next round and leaving Lyon in disbelief.
Despite fielding prominent players such as Alexandre Lacazette, Nemanja Matic, Said Benrahma, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Lyon could not overcome the spirited performance of their amateur opponents. The Coupe de France is known for its history of astonishing upsets, with amateur teams often proving formidable opponents. Notably, in 2000, fourth-tier Calais RUFC made it to the final before narrowly losing to Nantes.
This latest result adds another chapter to the competition's narrative of underdog triumphs. Bourgoin-Jallieu's achievement serves as a testament to the unpredictable nature of football and the potential for any team to rise against the odds.
Leave a Reply