Strasbourg ruthless from the spot to down Reims and reach Coupe de France semi-finals

[p]Finalists only last season, Ligue 2 promotion hopefuls [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/reims/tItR6sEf/"]Reims[/a] quickly found themselves under sustained pressure, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/strasbourg/nP6UzIU1/"]Strasbourg[/a] controlling possession and dictating the tempo from the opening stages.[/p][p]The hosts struggled to turn that dominance into clear chances and were repeatedly denied by goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/olliero-alexandre/EyJTU6I9/"]Alexandre Olliero[/a], who was in defiant form.[/p][p]The Reims stopper reacted sharply to hold [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nanasi-sebastian/dIkk2y21/"]Sebastian Nanasi[/a]’s glancing close‑range header, and tipped [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/doue-guela/vg3drc4E/"]Guéla Doué[/a]’s low drive onto the post to ensure his side reached the break all square.[/p][image alt="Match stats" id="fa45ab05-daa0-4c66-a646-5d62983012eb" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="94c52f6b-f9f0-47af-81e6-32c7043c94f6" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]Reims went into the second half aiming to extend a remarkable run of seven consecutive clean sheets across all competitions (W3, D4), though that run looked increasingly under threat.[/p][p]Doué saw another attempt clip the woodwork, as the Ligue 1 side extended their dominance past the hour mark without being able to make the breakthrough.[/p][p]For all their pressure, however, Strasbourg suffered a scare when a rare Reims break ended with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hiroki-sekine/OQmnBwcQ/"]Hiroki Sekine[/a]’s strike arrowing towards the bottom corner, only for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/penders-mike/nyaJupUE/"]Mike Penders[/a] to turn it away with a fingertip save.[/p][p]Seemingly running out of ideas, Strasbourg were handed a late lifeline when two late penalties turned the tie completely in their favour.  [/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/panichelli-joaquin/SSL080TM/"]Joaquín Panichelli[/a] thumped home from 12 yards after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/patrick-john/KSJa6qQL/"]John Patrick[/a] had handled, and just three minutes later, substitute [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/enciso-julio/f19S9MEi/"]Julio Enciso[/a] doubled their lead to all but end Reims hopes.[/b][/p][embed guid="466efb87-531b-4703-97a5-1d1899badf5a" url="https://x.com/RCSA_English/status/2028953218072428950" social-type="twitter" /][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zabi/88Av7t3m/"]Patrick Zabi[/a] clawed back a late consolation strike for Reims, but it would prove too little, too late for last season’s cup runners-up. [/b][/p][p]Having spared their blushes with a late double, Strasbourg are now unbeaten in 13 of their last 15 outings. [/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/olliero-alexandre/EyJTU6I9/"]Alexandre Olliero[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/reims/tItR6sEf/"]Stade de Reims[/a])[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/reims-tItR6sEf/strasbourg-nP6UzIU1/?mid=CAk4CKmL"]Check out all the match stats here[/a][/b][/p]