After beating Super Ligue leaders Magenta to qualify for the seventh round of the French cup, Lössi coach Thierry Sardo says the game plan was to continue to play as they have all season while focusing on keeping the defence solid.
“We wanted to hold them at 0-0 for as long as possible,” he says.
Lössi’s defence held up for much of the first half, fending off attack after attack from the visitors who enjoyed a much larger percentage of possession.
Despite spending much of the period in their own half, the home side came close to opening the scoring following a blistering counter-attack in the 40th minute from Michel Wassin who stormed down the left flank past Mulhouse defender Loïc Fortuna to send a shot in on goal.
The shot fell to the Mulhouse keeper who could only push the ball to the feet of Mone Wamowe but he lacked the finishing touch to put Lössi ahead.
The Lifou side were fortunate not to have another chance shortly after when Yannick Konki sent a cross in from the right which fell just short of connecting with Gwenaël Poulawa.
A counter-attack from Mulhouse followed with a superb cross falling neatly for Saïd Dardouri to head in at the far post opening the scoring in the 45th minute.
Lössi refused to make things easy for Mulhouse in the second half despite being a goal down, maintaining the pressure right up to the last five minutes of the match.
It was then that Dardouri struck again, netting twice in the 89th and 90th minutes to seal victory for Mulhouse and earn his first hat-trick.
Mulhouse coach Laurent Croci says he is pleased to see his team qualify for the eighth round of the Coupe de France after being given a run for their money by Lössi.
“I will only be taking the qualification from this match as we weren’t very good,” Croci says.
“We fell on a great team with Lössi who were well organised defensively and tactically. They left us little space, their game plan was to wait for us and then counter-attack. They sometimes showed too much haste, which was fortunate for us.”
Lössi coach Sardo says Mulhouse’s first goal in the 45th minute had a detrimental effect on his side who were unlucky in terms of the final score line.
“I am proud of my players, they made sacrifices. We denied them the game in the first period and this annoyed the Mulhouse side,” Sardo says.
“We were able to bother them a little at least. The score was heavily in their favour in the end, but it is through these kinds of games that you progress.
“The true score is 1-0 to Mulhouse as the last two goals don’t count for me.”
Lössi captain Luther Wahnyamalla says the side had some opportunities in the first half but failed to take advantage of them.
“Fate wasn’t smiling on us, we were unlucky,” he says.
“If we had a little success in scoring a goal it would have changed the outcome.”
Lössi striker Marek Aucher says Mulhouse were a team his side could have beaten had they been at their best.
“We played badly on the counter-attacks that we had. It has left a sour taste in our mouths but we are not going to be embarrassed by this defeat,” Aucher says.
“On a personal note I have some regrets, but it remains a very good season for Lössi. We will try and do even better next year.”
For highlights of the Coupe de France match between Lössi and Mulhouse click here
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