Cannes 1-2 Reims: Fourth-tier hosts' miracle cup run over
Stade de Reims will play in the Coupe de France final for the first time since 1977 after beating fourth-tier Cannes 2-1 in the semi-final.
Stade de Reims ended fourth-tier AS Cannes' dream run in the Coupe de France after a 2-1 victory away in the semi-final on Wednesday.
The side from Ligue 1 were made to work for their victory, having been pegged back in the second half after Hafiz Ibrahim had initially put them 1-0 up after just 14 minutes.
The striker had been set up by Mamadou Diakhon, who laid the ball off to him to roll home from close range.
But the lower-league hosts were not going to give up without a fight, with Cheikh N'Doye heading home from a corner seven minutes into the second half.
Though hopes of Cannes recreating their 1932 Coupe de France triumph were dashed just six minutes after getting level. Teddy Teuma netted after being set up by Ibrahim to retake the lead.
France legends Patrick Vieira and Zinedine Zidane had both started their careers with Cannes, but there was to be no fairytale story here, with the visitors effectively seeing out the match.
Reims will face Paris Saint-Germain in the cup final on 24 May at the Stade de France.
Data debrief: Cannes out, but not down
Despite their elimination from the Coupe de France, Cannes did extend a scoring run of six straight matches in the competition.
Cderic Goncalves, meanwhile, took his assist tally to three in the competition after setting up N'Doye's equaliser.
For Reims though, it is the first time since 1977 that they will compete in the Coupe de France final.