Bastia beat Monaco on penalties to reach French League Cup final
Xinhua, February 5, 2015 Adjust font size:
Bastia ended Monaco's 13-match unbeaten run through a 7-6 win on penalties Wednesday, setting up a League Cup final with title holders Paris Saint-Germain.
The teams were locked at 0-0 after extra time and veteran Sebastien Squillaci, a former Monaco player, ensured his team will travel to the Stade de France for a remake of the 1995 final against PSG by scoring the final penalty in a thrilling shootout.
Squilacci sealed the Corsican club's victory by beating Monaco keeper Maarten Stekelenburg after Nabil Dirar fired his shot onto the crossbar.
PSG advanced to the April 11 final with a 1-0 win over Lille on Tuesday.
Although Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim started with forwards Dimitar Berbatov, Valere Germain and Anthony Martial, the hosts struggled to create chances.
Spurred on by about 4,000 buoyant traveling fans, Areola was decisive again during the shootout, tipping away Moutinho's penalty on to the post when the Portuguese player had the chance to send Monaco through. Endi