Auxerre book place in Coupe de France final with victory over Guingamp

Updated: May 17, 2023, 06:19 am
Auxerre fans celebrate on the field after the final whistle.
JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images

Auxerre claimed a place in the final of the Coupe de France after holding on for the final 18 minutes with a man less to dump out holders Guingamp 1-0.

The home side took a 15th-minute lead through Frederic Sammaritano but were then forced to dig deep after losing Jamel Ait-Ben-Idir to a red card in the 72nd minute of the semifinal.

Guingamp, cup winners in 2009 and 2014, could not make their numerical advantage count though, and Auxerre will now have a chance to lift the trophy for the fifth time in their history.

Standing in their way in the final will be either Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain or St Etienne, who meet in the capital on Wednesday.