The Albany Gazette - Strasbourg spot on against Reims in French Cup

First-division Strasbourg repeatedly came close against their second-tier visitors but the game was still scoreless on 83 minutes when the hosts were awarded a penalty after the ball struck Spanish-Irish midfielder John Patrick on the arm.

Argentine striker Joaquin Panichelli and Paraguayan winger Julio Enciso both stepped up to take the kick.

After a face-off as neither man was prepared to relinquish the ball, diminutive Argentine midfielder Valentin Barco stepped between them and ushered Enciso away.

Panichelli bravely walloped the ball at the middle of the goal. It struck the underside of the bar, cannoned down and bounced up again into the roof of the net as the jubilant striker bounced toward the corner flag.

Four minutes later David Datro Fofana danced past two defenders but was brought down by goalie Alexandre Olliero.

With Panichelli substituted, Enciso had no rivals for the penalty which he also drilled down the middle - though along the ground - and past the diving Olliero.

That made him the top scorer in this year's cup with six goals. He celebrated by holding his finger to his lips.

"The first was for me," Panichelli told BeIN sport at the end. "I'm very happy he was able to score the second."

As time ran out, Patrick Zabi pulled a goal back for the visitors four minutes into added time.

Strasbourg qualified for the last four for the first time since 2001, a season when they won the cup for the third time.

With Paris Saint-Germain, winners for the last two years and in eight of the last 11 seasons, already eliminated, Toulouse winners in 2023 are the most recent cup holders in the last eight.

They visit Marseille, who won the last of their 10 cups in 1989, on Wednesday after Lorient host Nice.

Lens, whose Ligue 1 title challenge is fading and who have never won the cup, visit Lyon on Thursday.

(R.White--TAG)