Lorient 0-0 Nice, 6-5 pens: Diouf decisive as Pagis sees red | OneFootball

Nice advanced on penalties after a 0-0 draw, Yéhvann Diouf decisive after Pablo Pagis was sent off before the break. The result puts Nice into the Coupe de France semi-finals.

According to L'Équipe, the Senegalese goalkeeper was outstanding on the night. Earlier, Pagis had been Lorient’s livewire, shooting over on 10 minutes and bending a free-kick narrowly wide on 22.

The contest tilted on 43 minutes when Pagis saw red for a dangerous tackle on Charles Vanhoutte, shortly after a heavy challenge from Mendy that might also have produced a dismissal.

In the second half, Jonathan Clauss drove Nice on, fizzing one effort over on 69 minutes and supplying a teasing cross for Morgan Sanson on 75. Kaïl Boudache impressed wide right before fading after a move inside, then went off for Bernardeau on 82.

Claude Puel used Tanguy Ndombele as a number nine before the interval, then as a 10 after it, but he struggled physically and was replaced by the disappointing Kevin Carlos on 56. Mohamed-Ali Cho came on early in the half yet remained subdued despite the numerical advantage.

For Lorient, Montassar Talbi marshalled a stubborn back line, repeatedly cutting out danger and organising team-mates after Laurent Abergel went off. He converted his penalty with aplomb.

In the shootout, Diouf saved twice, first denying Soumano with a kick that would have sent Lorient through, then diving right to keep out Bamo Meïté with the 18th and final attempt. The shootout finished 6-5.

Source: L'Équipe