The day after Racing Club de Lens’ victory against Toulouse (4-1), the second semi-final of the Coupe de France took place on Wednesday evening at the Meinau stadium. Although in front of its audience, the Racing Club de Strasbourg was surprised and eliminated by OGC Nice (0-2). Effective against, the Aiglons were able to count on Elye Wahi, author of the double victory.
After their stunning qualification against the Germans from Mainz in the quarter-finals of the Conference League, the Alsatians had already lost at home on April 19 against Rennes (0-3, 30th day of Ligue 1). Three days later, they have just suffered a second loss in a row at home. While they could offer themselves a place in the Coupe de France final, they were grilled by unexpected Niçois.
Yet much more incisive and offensive than their opponents, the locals held the ball from the first period (66%). If they shot five times more than Nice during these first forty-five minutes, they only hit the target once. And without result. Enough to return to the locker room with a goalless draw of 0-0.
Nice will face Lens in the final
Really shaken up at the start of the second act, the Aiglons will then change everything to a counterattack. Launched by the precise opening of Jonathan Clauss, Elye Wahi deceived the Strasbourg goalkeeper with a perfect cross shot (0-1, 51st). This opening score will allow the visitors to see ahead and concentrate on their defense, while waiting for a new opportunity to counter. An opportunity which arrived and which pushed Diego Moreira to make a mistake in his area.
After intervention by the VAR, Mr. Letexier awarded a penalty to the Niçois, transformed by Elye Wahi, author of a double (0-2, 82nd). Unlucky, shooting several times just wide of the target, but also falling on Maxime DupĂ© author of some masterful saves, the Alsatians were finally eliminated. Nice will therefore see the Stade de France and will play the final of the Coupe de France against Lens on May 22, the club’s first since 2022.
