AS Monaco Knocked Out of Coupe de France by Reims After Penalty Shootout Drama

AS Monaco's aspirations in the Coupe de France were dashed as they were defeated by Stade de Reims in a dramatic penalty shootout (1-1, 4-1 on penalties) during the round of 16 fixture on Tuesday evening. Despite a spirited comeback in the second half to equalize, Monaco stumbled in the critical shootout phase, ending their quest for the prestigious cup.

The match posed a significant challenge for Monaco, who had previously drawn with Reims in their Ligue 1 encounter earlier this season. Manager Adi Hütter made several strategic changes to the lineup, giving Lucas Michal his first professional start. Despite early opportunities created by Breel Embolo and Eliesse Ben Seghir, it was Reims who broke the deadlock shortly before the halftime through Cédric Kipré's header.

Following halftime adjustments, Monaco found their rhythm, with Mohammed Salisu scoring the equalizer in the 70th minute. The team pushed hard for a winning goal, but the match proceeded to penalties where Monaco's efforts faltered, converting only one of their attempts. This defeat not only marks their exit from the Coupe de France but also refocuses the team on upcoming Ligue 1 commitments, starting with a match against Montpellier on Friday evening.