French Cup trip from Indian Ocean ends in loss for amateurs
PARIS (AP) - A sixth-division team which traveled from the Indian Ocean to Corsica couldn't take home a win in the French Cup on Saturday.
La Sainte-Marienne lost 2-0 to host Gazelec Ajaccio, which progressed to the round of 32 alongside fellow first-division teams Nantes, Toulouse, Angers, Bastia and Troyes.
Ajaccio players and officials formed a guard of honor after the final whistle for their amateur opponents, who traveled from French territory Reunion Island, and had never advanced this far before in the competition.
Third-division side Chambly produced the only shock result of the day with a 4-1 thrashing of Reims after Wilfried Louisy-Daniel's hat trick.
Struggling at the bottom of the Ligue 1 standings, Troyes grabbed its first win this season with a tense 4-3 victory at third-tier side Dunkerque after Jessy Pi scored the opening goal then the winner in the 116th minute.
"It was important to finally win a game, it's something at least," Pi said.
Paris Saint-Germain begins its title defense on Sunday with a trip to fourth-tier Wasquehal in its first game of 2016.
Two matches between top-tier teams see Marseille traveling to Caen on Sunday, and Nice hosting Rennes on Monday.