Versailles beats 4th-tier rival to reach French Cup semis

PARIS (AP) — Versailles knocked out fellow fourth-tier side Bergerac on penalty kicks to reach the semifinals of the French Cup on Wednesday.

Versailles took the lead through midfielder Inza Diarrassouba’s 14th-minute goal, but Axel Tressens equalized after receiving an astute pass from Christian Gyeboaho in the 90th to send the game to a shootout.

The handful of fans who traveled some 580 kilometers (about 360 miles) down from near Paris celebrated jubilantly with the players after Versailles won 5-4 on penalties to join last year’s runner-up Monaco in the last four.

Later Wednesday, Nice was hosting first-division rival Marseille in their quarterfinal.

Nantes faces second-tier Bastia at home on Thursday.

Nantes was once a powerhouse in French soccer and celebrated winning its third French Cup in 2000 and its eighth league title the following year but has won nothing since 2001.

Coach Antoine Kombouare, a former Nantes defender, has brought much-needed stability back to the club.

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