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French roundup Calais shocks Bordeaux to reach French Cup final
Posted: Wednesday April 12, 2000 05:55 PM
PARIS (AP) -- Tiny amateur team Calais pulled off one of the biggest upsets in French soccer history on Wednesday when it beat Bordeaux 3-1 after extra time in the semifinals of the French Cup. After a goal-less 90 minutes, the 40,000 Calais fans who made the trip to nearby Lens were sent into raptures in the ninth minute of extra time when Cedric Jandau struck in a superb first-time shot from the edge of the penalty area. Calais' collection of office workers, shop owners and teachers toiled tirelessly to hold on to its lead against the French champion. Bordeaux looked stunned but in the 107th minute Lilian Laslandes slammed the ball in after a smart back header from fellow French international Christophe Dugarry. Fatigue set in, but the fourth division side struck back within five minutes when suicidal defending from Kodjo Afanou gave an easy chance to Frederic Millien. Incredibly Calais, the first fourth division side to ever reach the French Cup semifinals, scored a third when Mickael Girard fired in after more poor defending from Elie Baup's team. Bordeaux was left to rue a series of missed chances. Calais goalkeeper Cedric Schille saved superbly from Laslandes in the 38th minute and Nisa Saveljic headed against the bar nine minutes into the second half. Calais will face Nantes in the final at Saint-Denis. The Canaries ended Monaco's hopes of a league and cup double with a 1-0 win at the Stade Louis II stadium. Nantes, the defending cup holder, scored the only goal of the match in the 80th minute when midfielder Frederic Da Rocha danced through three weak challenges and slipped the ball past goalkeeper Fabien Barthez. Runaway league leader Monaco, which could seal the French championship this weekend, put Nantes under intense pressure but failed to create any clear goalscoring opportunities.
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