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Ten-men Auxerre upset defending champions Guingamp to reach French Cup final

Xinhua, April 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

Ligue 2 members Auxerre, who were down to 10-men late in second half, beat holders Guingamp 1-0 on Tuesday to book their first French Cup final since 2005.

Frederic Sammaritano scored the only goal after just fifteen minutes when he took an excellent touch in the box before shooting low across a helpless Mamadou Samassa.

Though Jamel Ait Ben Idir was sent off in the 73rd minute after being shown a red card, Auxerre managed to hold out the 11-placed Ligue 1 side Guingamp, the Cup winners of last season and in 2009.

Auxerre, now ranked eighth in Ligue 2, had been a previous league and cup double winner under legendary coach Guy Roux in 1996, before being relegated from Ligue 1 in 2012.

The second tier team, who saw Eric Cantona, Bacary Sagna and Abou Diaby rise through their ranks, also lifted the Cup in 1994, 2003 and 2005.

In the other semifinal encounter of the Cup, injury-hit Paris Saint-Germain will host Saint-Etienne in Parc des Princes on Wednesday, with the final set for May 30. Endi