Football
19y

Soccer-Saviola hat-trick sends Monaco into Cup third round

PARIS, Feb 12 - A Javier Saviola hat-trick helped
Monaco labour to a 4-2 victory at third division Libourne
Saint-Seurin in the French Cup second round on Saturday.

The Argentina striker opened the scoring in the 25th minute
before netting two more goals, including one in injury-time, to
wrap up the match.

Libourne tried to live up to their reputation as
giant-killers, after eliminating Olympique Lyon and Lille in
2001 and reaching the quarter-finals by beating Bastia in 2002,
and put up a brave challenge until the end.

They equalised through striker Roland Vieira just after the
interval and reduced the deficit to 3-2 thanks to a goal by
midfielder Pascal Theze two minutes from time.

Monaco were lucky to reach the next round as Libourne
defender Lilian Astier scored an own-goal in the 80th minute.

Amateurs Nimes claimed their second top-flight scalp when
they beat visiting AC Ajaccio in a penalty shootout after the
match had finished level at 1-1 following extra time.

The Corsicans went in front when defender Nenad Dzodic
netted in the fourth minute but Nimes equalised by Enza Yamissi
from the penalty spot in the 89th.

Nimes, who had eliminated Saint-Etienne in the first round,
kept their cool in the penalty shootout to win 4-3 and knock out
their second Ligue 1 victims in a row.

Nimes have not lost a French Cup match at home since a 2-1
defeat by Nantes in 1985.

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