MATCH REPORT | Brest 2-1 Nantes: Pirates qualified for Coupe de France RO16 | OneFootball

Brest have beaten Ligue 1 rivals FC Nantes in the Coupe de France RO32 this Wednesday at Brest’s Stade Francis Le Blé. The two sides previously met in Ligue 1 last month and Eric Roy’s outfit prevailed already. Barring the absences of No. 1 goalkeeper Anthony Lopes and France U19 centre-back Nathan Zézé, Nantes head coach Antoine Kombouaré fielded a strong team and Les Canaris started with intent. The visitors identified Brest full-back Luck Zogbé as a weak link, but the 19-year-old handled Nigeria international winger Moses Simon with maturity beyond his age.

Against the run of play, Brest took the lead on their first shot on target. Club captain Brendan Chardonnet found the marginally onside Abdallah Sima with a well-taken through ball. The Brighton and Hove Albion loanee dribbled past Nantes stalwart Nicolas Pallois with a Cruyff turn before tucking the ball past Patrik Carlgren at his near post. From then on, Nantes floundered. Sima’s powerful shot rattled the Swedish goalie’s crossbar. Ten minutes after Sima’s opener, Brest doubled their lead as Romain Del Castillo’s corner kick was too easily met with Chardonnet’s header.

In the second half, Brest tried to manage their advantage, but Nantes kept on knocking at the door, missing opportunities to halve their deficit. Antoine Kombouaré’s change in personnel proved inspired. 18-year-old substitute Bahereba Guirassy scored ten minutes after some great work down the left, squeezing past Zogbé and Mama Baldé to find Grégoire Coudert’s bottom corner. Nicolas Cozza would squander a golden opportunity to send the game into penalties, but he missed his header just yards from goal. In the end, Nantes’ defensive shortcomings in the first half made the difference. Les Canaris bow out of the Coupe de France as Brest qualify for the RO32.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval