Carquefou Take Down Marseille in a French Cup Giantkilling

By: Daryl | March 20th, 2008

Seems cup magic is contagious. Because after the recent English FA Cup giant-killings, underdog fever has crossed the channel. And in a much bigger way. Last night tiny – and I mean tiny – fifth division team Carquefou knocked the mighty Olympique Marseille clean out of the French Cup (and onto their arses) with an imporobable 1-0 win. The goal came from Senegalese midfielder and instant legend Papa Idrissa N’Doye, who was wide awake enough to spot Marseille’s criminally flat back four and make a run straight through it.

Because Carquefou’s ground was way too small to host the game, it was instead played in front of 35,000 at the nearby La Beaujoire stadium, home of Nantes. So Marseille are out of the French Cup, and Carquefou are into the quarterfinals. And for an idea of just how big this is, see the Carquefou player’s celebrations below…

[video via 101 Great Goals]

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Category: French Ligue 1

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AJA

There has been loads of 3rd/4th/5th division teams in France over the last 20-25 years who've eliminated top flight teams 3 or 4 rounds on the trot (Nîmes, Calais, Gueugnon, Montceau, Clermont-Ferrand, etc.). It has often been suggested that it's because the difference between the divisions is not as great as it is in England where it would be impossible to imagine the same.
Before Marseille, Carquefou had knocked Nancy out (3rd in the League) and Geugnon. They will play PSG next round.
old apple

more like conference north south
francis

Woa. Carquefou is WAY lower then Cardiff if we were to compare them. Carquefou is like is a team that could be compared to a League 2 team.