Strasbourg secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Reims in the French Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday, with two late penalty kicks deciding the match. The first-division side, facing a second-tier opponent, dominated possession throughout but could not break the deadlock until the 83rd minute. A penalty was awarded after the ball struck Spanish-Irish midfielder John Patrick on the arm, setting the stage for a tense shootout. Argentine striker Joaquin Panichelli and Paraguayan winger Julio Enciso both stepped up to take the spot kicks. After a brief standoff as neither player was willing to release the ball, diminutive Argentine midfielder Valentin Barco intervened, guiding Enciso away from the ball. Panichelli took the first penalty, striking the ball hard toward the middle of the goal. The shot hit the underside of the crossbar, rebounded down, and bounced into the net, sending the striker sprinting toward the corner flag in celebration. Four minutes later, David Datro Fofana evaded two defenders before being brought down by Reims goalkeeper Alexandre Olliero. With Panichelli substituted, Enciso stepped up for the second penalty, drilling the ball low and past the diving Olliero. Enciso’s two goals made him the tournament’s top scorer with six goals, and he celebrated by holding his finger to his lips. “The first was for me,” Panichelli told BeIN Sport after the match. “I’m very happy he was able to score the second.” The win extended Strasbourg’s lead in the tie, but Reims fought back in the final moments, with Patrick Zabi scoring a late goal four minutes into added time. The victory marked Strasbourg’s first appearance in the French Cup last four since 2001, a season when the club won the tournament for the third time.#joaquin_panichelli #strasbourg #reims #john_patterson #julio_enciso
