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Coupe de France | Fourth Round
Jan 5, 2014 at 4pm UK
 
Monaco

2-3

Cakin (2'), Aguemon (36')
FT(HT: 2-2)

Live Commentary: Vannes OC 2-3 AS Monaco - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's coverage from the Coupe de France where Vannes OC hosted AS Monaco in the round of 64.
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Ligue 1 giants AS Monaco travelled to Vannes OC on Sunday afternoon in the Coupe de France.

The third-tier side, who are undergoing severe financial problems, hosted the Round of 64 tie at Stade de la Rabine, with Moneybags Monaco going into the match sitting second in the top division.

In a highly-entertaining clash, Monaco twice came from behind before scoring a late winner to breaks Vannes' hearts.

Read how the match unfolded in our live commentary below.


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Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Coupe de France where Vannes OC host AS Monaco at the Stade de la Rabine.

It's Round of 64 time in the French equivalent to the FA Cup, and this tie provides a real David vs. Goliath type fixture. Vannes OC, who are currently at risk of plummeting into the amateur leagues due to financial troubles in the third tier, face Ligue 1 millionaires AS Monaco, who are enjoying a tremendous season.

On and off the field, these two teams are worlds apart at the moment, but that all goes out of the window today when the two teams do battle at the home of the Championnat National outfit. Can mega-rich Monaco cope in standards outside of their comfort zone? We'll have to find out.

To those unfamiliar with French football, this would prove a similar fixture to Manchester City taking on Coventry City in the FA Cup. So you can see that there is a huge gulf in quality and financial power.

Vannes, who are already struggling for survival in the Championnat National, picked up a four-point penalty recently and are staring amateur football in the face. They have racked up just two wins all season, with the most recent of those triumphs coming in early October. They lost their professional status and TV rights income at the beginning of the season, so a cup run would prove golden for them.

Vannes beat Tourlaville Foot away from home 2-0 in the seventh round of the tournament, before following that up with a victory at U.S. Saint-Malo by the same scoreline. Needless to say, this afternoon's test is their greatest yet. But with 7,656 teams participating in this cup, Vannes have done very well to get down to the final 64.

We'll bring you the team news as soon as we get it. It's proving rather hard to find.

Still no sign of the team news, despite the fact that the teams are shortly to be leaving the dressing rooms.

Monaco have made the final of this competition on nine occasions. They fell at the final hurdle on their last final back in 2010, with their fifth and most recent cup triumph coming all the way back in 1991.

The teams are heading out of the tunnel to a big roar from the home fans. What a huge occasion this is for Vannes.

While I don't have the full news; Radamel Falcao and Emmanuel Riviere start in attack for Monaco, with Eric Abidal captaining the side. The Ligue 1 club look as though they are taking their relatively serious.

VANNES XI: Petit, Ringayen, Pele, Youga, Argelier, Cakin, Lawson, Kodjia, Thomasson, Aguemon, Suarez

Vannes line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, and no that isn't Luis Suarez up front.

MONACO XI: Romero, Fabinho, Isimat-Mirin, Abidal, Kurzwa, Toulalan, Kondogbia, Moutinho, Rodriguez, Riviere, Falcao

KICKOFF! The match is underway.

Vannes, playing to the left, are in all white. Monaco are in all black.

GOAL! Vannes OC 1-0 AS Monaco (Hendrick Cakin)

Unbelievable! The minnows are in front. A corner is swirled in from the right to the penalty spot, where Cakin rises unmarked and powers home a header. Cue wild celebrations, and rightly so.

GOAL! Vannes OC 1-1 AS Monaco (Radamel Falcao)

Well that didn't last long, and it only took a £55m striker to draw Monaco level. Straight from the restart, Fabinho is slide in down the right. He paces inside the box to Rodriguez, who offloads to Falcao on the spin. The Colombian takes one touch to set himself, before firing a powerful finish into the top left corner. Game on.

What a start to this game! No chance to catch your breath yet.

Monaco have been on top since drawing level, but Vannes are holding home for now. No clear chances since the goals.

CHANCE! Kondogbia makes a tackle in the middle of the Vannes half, and emerges with the ball. He moves into a bit of space, and sees no other clear options, so has a whack at goal from all of 30 yards. The shot was always swirling away from the top left corner though, and it's out for a goal kick.

James Rodriguez, who has been in sparkling form for Monaco over the past couple of months, wins a free kick out on the right touchline after being clipped by Ringayen.

To their credit, Vannes have passed the ball about very well and don't seem in awe of their opponents. The home side are well up for this.

Vannes have just been awarded a free kick in a crossing position, which Aguemon is over.

That's disappointing for Vannes as Aguemon, wearing a blue protective face mask, overcooks his ball and sends it out for goal kick.

Vannes are working very hard when not in possession. They're heavily pressing Monaco's defence and midfield.

We're nearly a quarter of the way through this match and the game hasn't slowed down. There haven't been any real chances though since the goals.

Just a reminder that this game will go to extra-time and penalties if needed.

GOAAAAALL...oh wait, it's not. Rodriguez thinks that he has given Monaco the lead as he dribbles into the box and shoots low with his left foot towards the bottom far corner. Whether or not it's going to go all the way through into the back of the net is another matter, but Riviere tries to steal a goal from just outside the six-yard box, and is flagged offside before tapping the ball home. Rodriguez does not look amused.

Rodriguez is again causing havoc among the Vannes backline, proving to tricky to keep up with. He jinks past two before shooting on the edge of the box, but his effort is well blocked.

Monaco have been awarded a free kick out on the right touchline. Abidal is one of the big boys making his way forward, so it looks as if they are going to loft this into the area.

Rodriguez takes it and floats the ball towards the far post. However, Vannes keeper Petit rises among a crowd of black shirts to claim the ball. He did very well there.

MISS! Ah Vannes come very close to going back in front. Kodja comes forward with the ball to the midway point of the Monaco half and has a crack at goal. It looks a routine stop for Romero as he crouches down to collect it, but the ball bounces off him and into the path of Suarez, who skies it. It looked as if he was offside anyway.

GOAL! Vannes OC 2-1 AS Monaco (Yannick Aguemon)

Vannes are back in front, and it's a howler from Romero. Aguemon races down the left and does well to flick the ball past Isimat-Mirin outside the box. He strolls into the penalty area before thumping a low shot to the near post. It should be an easy stop for Romero, but it bounces off the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

What a story this is for Vannes, can they hang on? They've certainly not been outplayed that's for sure.

Vannes are still on the attack. I know it's too early to sit back and protect their lead, but they are really striving for a third goal. If they could get it before half time, then Ranieri will have a real team talk on his hands.

GOAL! Vannes OC 2-2 AS Monaco (James Rodriguez)

There is another goal, but's it gone to the Ligue 1 side and it's the same trio who linked up for the first goal that have combined for the equaliser. Fabinho bombs down the right before bouncing a cross towards the far post. Riviere misses it, but it falls to Falcao, who brilliantly backheels the ball to Rodriguez at the back post. The former Porto man hits a powerful side-foot finish into the bottom corner to draw Monaco level for a second time.

It's been a really good game this so far.

SAVE! Great stop from Petit, who races out of his goal to partake in a game of chicken with Riviere, who is slotted through on goal. Petit races out of his box and slides in to make a clean tackle and clear the danger. Good goalkeeping.

HALF TIME: Vannes OC 2-2 AS Monaco

There goes the half-time whistle, and it's been a very good game of football so fair.

Despite the gulf in league positions and financial power, Vannes are still well in this game, and have twice been in front.

They're certainly not scared of the Ligue 1 giants, and have twice taken lead; first through Hendrick Cakin, and then from Yannick Aguemon.

Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez have equalised for Monaco. This game is far from other, and extra time and penalties will be played today if necessary.

The teams are back out and ready for the second half.

KICKOFF! Vannes, playing to the right, get the second half up and running.

YELLOW CARD Hendrick Cakin, who opened the scoring, goes into the book for a late challenge of a rampaging Fabinho that sent the Brazilian flying through the air.

Moutinho and Rodriguez are over this as they look to cross it into the box. The former takes it, and it's cleared away.

SITTER! Monaco should be ahead for the first time in this match, but Riviere skies a volley over the crossbar from all of a couple of yards out as the cross came in from the right.

Monaco started this half the better, but Vannes are coming right back into it. The crowd are playing their part too, making lots of noise and getting right behind the home team.

CHANCE! Vannes have really been having a go at Monaco over the past few minutes, and have just had their best chance. Suarez nods a cross from the left to the back post down to Kodja on the edge of the D. However, Kodja gets stars in his eyes and wildly blazes the chance into orbit.

Superb run from Aguemon down the left, who holds off the challenge of Rodriguez before being clattered by Isimat-Mirin to win a free kick.

The set piece is floated into the near post, which Romero manages to punch clear at full stretch. However, he's given a free kick after being fouled by Ringayen.

Still a highly-competitive contest. Monaco look as if they are about to make a couple of changes. Ricardo Carvalho is one of the men warming up.

MONACO CHANGES: Claudio Ranieri rings the changes. Radamel Falcao is replaced by Lucas Ocampos, while James Rodriguez is taken off, and Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco comes on. Bit odd that Ranieri has taken off two of his best players.

Mind you, Ocampos and Ferreira-Carrasco are both tremendous talents, and will certainly punish any weary legs.

Monaco look as if they have reverted to a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Moutinho pushing into the 'hole', and the two substitutes going wide.

Monaco have the momentum at the moment, but haven't really created an opportunity at goal since that Riviere sitter.

Not a lot to report from the last few minutes. It's become a fairly scrappy game in the centre of the park.

VANNES CHANGE: Franck Hery is on for Kodja.

Vannes readying another change.

MONACO CHANGE: Mounir Obbadi replaces Joao Moutinho is Monaco's final change.

We're 15 minutes away from having extra time in this tie. Neither side is looking like scoring at the moment. Both keepers have had a relatively action-free half.

As good as the first half was is as uneventful as the second half has been.

Vannes have just had a little spell around the Monaco box, with a couple of shots being blocked, that has lifted the crowd.

VANNES CHANGES:Franck Dufrennes comes on for Thomasson, while David Suarez is replaced by Christophe Gaffory.

Not long to go, and we still await a decent chance. Looks as if this may require an extra 30 minutes of action.

GOAL! Vannes OC 2-3 AS Monaco (Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco)

I spoke too soon and it's a stunning goal from Ferreira-Carrasco, who puts Monaco ahead for the first time in this match. He brings a ball down from the heavens on his chest on the left of the box, before gliding past two on the edge and smashing a low shot into the near corner from 20 yards out. Awesome goal, can Vannes mount a late response?

That goal is perhaps a bit harsh on Vannes, who has certainly held their own in this game. But, then again, they haven't really looked like scoring at all in this second period.

Monaco have been awarded a free kick just over 35 yards out. Ferreira-Carrasco lines it up, tries to put a low cross into the box, but Vannes can clear with ease.

We will have three minutes of added time.

Monaco have possession in the Vannes half, this looks to be it.

FULL TIME: Vannes OC 2-3 AS Monaco

Well it was a valiant effort, but Vannes just couldn't quite pull off the upset. They led twice in the first half thanks to goals from Cakin and Aguemon, but equalises from Rodriguez an Falcao before a Ferreira-Carrasco winner settled the match for the Ligue 1 side.

That's it from me for now, but join me at 7.15pm for coverage of Marseille vs. Reims in the Coupe de France.

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Monaco's Belgian midfielder Yannick Ferreira Carrasco (R) celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match Monaco vs Saint Etienne on October 5, 2013
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