Cup exit means more misery for Montpellier

Montpellier’s French midfielder Remy Cabella (R) vies with Sochaux’s Brazilian defender Carlos Roberto da Cruz Junior (L) and Sochaux’s French forward Roy Contout (C) during the French Cup round of 32 football match Montpellier (MHSC) vs Sochaux (FCSM) on January 23, 2013, at the Mosson stadium in Montpellier. Montpellier were knocked out of the French Cup round of 32 by Sochaux.

PARIS (AFP): Faltering French champions Montpellier were knocked out of the French Cup round of 32 by top-flight rivals Sochaux on Wednesday, completing a miserable few days for the southern club.

Montpellier twice squandered a lead before losing 3-2 after extra time at home to Sochaux, with substitute Yassin Mikari netting the visitors’ winner in the 107th minute at the Stade de la Mosson.

The Cup exit is the latest piece of bad news for Montpellier, who were knocked out of the League Cup at the semi-final stage at Rennes last week before conceding at the death to lose 3-2 at Marseille in the league on Saturday.

In addition, they sold captain Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa to Newcastle United on Tuesday, leading to reports that coach Rene Girard — furious at the loss of such a key player — would be leaving the club when his contract expires in the summer.

Earlier in the day, Nancy won 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw away to Nice.

Enduring a miserable season, Ligue 1 strugglers Nancy had not won against top-flight opponents since August, and they were initially denied the victory when Dario Cvitanich scored for Nice seven minutes into injury time to force an extra half hour.

However, they eventually triumphed from the spot in a match played in front of a largely empty stadium as fans boycotted in protest at the kick-off time, mid-afternoon on a Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Saint-Etienne hardly covered themselves in glory in their tie away to sixth-tier regional league club Meaux.

Remarkably, the minnows held on at 0-0 until the end of extra time despite having a man sent off in the 35th minute, but eventually succumbed 5-3 in the shoot-out.

Top-flight duo Bordeaux and Brest both came from behind to win their ties away to lower-league Moulins and CA Bastia respectively.

Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain faced Toulouse later on Wednesday.

Marseille’s tie away to third-division Rouen, which was postponed on Tuesday because of a major gas leak in the Normandy city, will now be played on January 30.

Lille travel to Plabennec, of the fourth tier, on Thursday.