Thanks to the talented Dimitar Berbatov scoring an extra-time winner Monaco is to be sent through to the last eight of the French Cup. His new side reveled in their victories regarding 10-man and Nice 1-0 on Wednesday. They have high hopes and expectations of this season’s upcoming domestic double.
After the 113th minute of a dull sceneat Nice’s Allianz Riviera ground, the former Fulham forward made his first goal since moving to Monaco last month. It brought many cheers to the huge number of fans that had gathered there.
Lucas Ocampos passed the ball tothe 33-year-old Bulgarian in a speculative manner to get the ball into the net from five yards away. Nice’s keeper Mouez Hassan was well-beaten.
Berbatov hadmade only his second appearance for the Monegasques and he had to come on as a second-half substitute. The Monegasquesare presently second in France’s Ligue 1 and are exactly five points away from defending champions Paris Saint Germain.
It seemed to be a very boring game with little action and not too many chances before Berbatov was unleashed. He managed to bring life and excitement into the game. Nice’s Timothee Kolodziejkczak was dismissed. After this the turn of events changed.
He was accused of hitting Monaco defender Ricardo Carvalho and hence was sent off. Obviously irked by the situation, he took few moments to leave the pitch.
Monaco managed to break the deadlock when a header from Ocampos zoomedby a hair’s breadth wide of the left upright.
The other results from Wednesday show that Rennes won 1-0 at Auxerre. Also Guingamp was victorious against L’Ile Rousse winning 2-0 and Moulins from France’s fourth tier won Sete by 3-1. Now they are to head into the quarter-finals.
The 2012 winners, Lyon and Lens played against each other on Thursday for the last place in the quarter-finals.