Coupe de la Ligue Review: Auxerre's blushes spared in shootout
CA Bastia almost embarrassed Auxerre and Ligue 2 leaders Metz were eliminated on a lively night of action in the Coupe de la Ligue.
Auxerre survived a major scare to book their place in the Coupe de la Ligue round of 32, as they were forced to go to penalties to see off Championnat National side CA Bastia.
The Corsicans were the last representatives of the third tier left in the competition and stunned last season's Coupe de France finalists by taking the lead through Adama Guidiala with just eight minutes on the clock.
The visitors levelled on the stroke of half-time, however, courtesy of Pierre Bouby and eventually prevailed 3-0 in the shootout.
The clash between Bourg-Peronnas and Nancy also went to spot-kicks after the two sides had failed to produce a goal between them in 120 minutes, with the former ultimately squeezing through 5-4.
Unbeaten Ligue 2 leaders Metz, meanwhile, slumped to a surprise 2-0 defeat at Dijon, goals from Mamadou Thiam and Lois Diony proving enough to send the 1996 winners tumbling out of the competition.
Tours also secured a 2-0 home win at the expense of Sochaux, with both of their goals coming in the second-half from Haris Belkebla and Christian Kouakou.
Evian held off a late charge from Clermont to progress 3-2 at the Parc des Sports d'Annecy.
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Goals from Fabien Centonze, Hernan Altolaguirre and Aaron Appindangoye had put the recently-relegated hosts 3-0 up early in the second-half, but late replies from Wesley Jobello and Idriss Saadi set up a tense finale.
The clash between AC Ajaccio and Laval was also a tight affair, with the visitors eventually edging it 2-1 thanks to a Rachid Alioui effort three minutes from the end of extra-time.
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