Trailing at the break, FCR responded in the second half, but lost to Villefranche.
After a terrible first half in which they conceded three goals, FCR were unable to close the gap. From two crosses, one from the left and the other from the right, Villefranche scored twice in one minute through Calodat (0-1, 15′) and Couturier (0-2, 16′). FCR tried to respond with headers from Sanson (20′) and Abi (24′) and a shot from Faye (31′), but these attempts were too timid. FCR were again punished before the break by a direct free-kick from Diakité (0-3, 45+1′).
After the break, Benkaid quickly reduced the gap (1-3, 50′) and led the Rouen revolt! Our striker then hit the upright with his head (58′). Abi then brought FCR back to within a single goal (2-3, 64′). A few minutes later, Bassin had the chance to equalize with a header, but Péan made no mistake (67′). Villefranche then regained their two-goal lead thanks to Mroivili (2-4, 68′)… This gap remained unchanged until the final whistle, despite a few situations for Rouen.
Game sheet
Friday 14th March 2025
Stade Robert-Diochon
FC Rouen 1899 – FC Villefranche : 2-4 (0-3)
Referee : M. Souifi.
Attendance : 5055 spectators.
Goals for Rouen : Benkaid (50′), Abi (64′); for Villefranche : Calodat (15′), Couturier (16′), Diakité (45+1′), Mroivili (68′).
Warnings for Rouen : Sanson (9′), Bassin (87′); for Villefranche : Ba (53′).
FC Rouen 1899 : Lucas Royes – Valentin Sanson (Goprou, 41′), Sofyane Bouzamoucha, Clément Bassin (cap.) – Jason Mbock (Ferrah, 41′), Abdellah Haimoud (Letono, 78′), Mustapha Benzia, Mathieu Mion – Hicham Benkaid – Charles Abi, Sérigne Faye.
Substitutes : Yazid Ait Moujane, Dany Goprou, Omar Bezzekhami, Ichem Ferrah, Christ Letono.
Coach : Régis Brouard.
Villefranche : Sullivan Péan – Vinicius Gomes, Lucas Camelo, Nathan Monzango – Brice Negouai, Clément Couturier (cap.) (Valerio, 83′), Octave Joly, Maxime Bastian – Lucas Calodat (Mroivili, 56′), Idrissa Ba (Anani, 66′), Adama Diakité (Rocchia, 83′).
Substitutes : Christopher Rocchia, Raouf Mroivili, Mokrane Bentoumi, Antoine Valério, Achille Anani.
Coach : Laurent Combarel.