The match: 1-1, 6-5 at the tabs
The atmosphere was crazy at the Stade Robert-Diochon, firecrackers exploded everywhere (even on the pitch) and, in torrential and almost continuous rain, Monaco was drowned. Carried by 10,000 crazy spectators, the seventh in National accomplished a new feat by eliminating the fifth in L1 under the eyes of Dimitri Rybolovlev, the president of the ASM. In the quarter-finals, it is Rouen who will face Valenciennes (L2) on February 27 or 28, and it is deserved.
Without Ben Yedder, preserved due to a muscular alert, Monaco nevertheless managed to take the advantage just after half an hour of play. Perfectly launched by Fofana, Balogun hooked Aggoune, before being unbalanced by the Rouen goalkeeper . If Fofana asked to take the penalty, the American striker did not give in and transformed the sentence (0-1, 35th). Monaco then had the opportunity to double the lead, but Minamino made the wrong choice by shifting Fofana instead of Balogun, and the French international (15 caps, 2 goals) completely crushed his shot (45th). Turning.
Because just before the break, Rouen equalized through Bassin, well found by Sanson after a free kick from Allée (45th+5). It was only fair, because Maxime d’Ornano’s team almost opened the scoring with an incredible double opportunity with a shot on the post from Lopy then a header from Mion stopped on the line by Salisu with… 23rd).
After the break, Rouen could even have taken the advantage, but this time it was Maripan who pushed back Sy’s shot just in front of the line (56th). The Monegasque team then had many opportunities through Balogun’s header (73rd), or from a free kick from Golovine (80th). But Adi Hütter’s team, already slowing down in the Championship, struggled to impose its game and Rouen’s counterattacks posed a constant threat.
Penalties then decided between the two teams. In the 32nd final, ASM qualified in this way in Lens (2-2, 6-5 on the tab). In the round of 16, Rouen brought down Toulouse, holding the match after an interminable session (3-3, 12-11 on the tabs). The suspense was still there, Balogun had the qualifying ball but Rouen now has a new hero, Leonard Aggoune having repelled the attempt of the American then of Akliouche. Drunk with joy, the Rouen supporters were then able to invade the field.
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Rouen qualified for the quarter-finals for the first time in 25 years. In 1999, the Norman club then fell at this stage of the competition against Sedan (0-2), the future finalist.
The turning point of the match: Fofana misses the break
In the last minute of regulation time of the first period, Monaco led 1-0 and had a superb opportunity to distance themselves. After a two-way recovery from Fofana then Minamino, the Japanese international (57 caps, 20 goals) made the wrong choice by choosing to shift Fofana to his left, instead of serving Balogun, demarcated to his right. On his bad foot, the French international midfielder then completely crushed his shot, captured without worry by Aggoune (45th). Five minutes, Rouen equalized, and the game had just turned around.
