Luis Henrique’s Last-Minute Heroics Fall Short as Lille Advances in Coupe de France

MARSEILLE, France — In a dramatic Coupe de France round of 16 clash, Luis Henrique‘s stunning last-minute equalizer for Olympique de Marseille (OM) forced a penalty shootout, but Lille emerged victorious with a 4-3 win on Tuesday night. The match, held at the Stade Vélodrome, ended Marseille’s unbeaten streak and left fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.

Luis Henrique became the unlikely hero in the dying moments of stoppage time, firing a missile from outside the box to level the score at 1-1 in the 96th minute. The Brazilian’s strike sent the home crowd into a frenzy, but the joy was short-lived as Lille’s goalkeeper Vito Mannone proved decisive in the penalty shootout, saving Henrique’s first attempt and later denying Jonathan Rowe to secure the win.

Marseille, unbeaten since November 8, dominated much of the game, with Mason Greenwood creating several chances. However, Lille’s defense held firm, and their counterattacks proved effective. Jonathan David set up the opening goal in the 69th minute, delivering a precise cross to Hákon Arnar Haraldsson, who slotted the ball past Marseille’s Jeffrey De Lange.

“It was a tough match, but we showed character,” said Lille coach Paulo Fonseca. “Vito Mannone was exceptional, and the team fought until the end.”

For Marseille, the loss marks an early exit from the Coupe de France, leaving them with only Ligue 1 to focus on for the remainder of the season. “We gave everything, but sometimes football is cruel,” said OM manager Marcelino. “Luis Henrique’s goal was incredible, but we couldn’t finish the job.”

The match also saw both teams fielding backup goalkeepers, with Mannone replacing Lucas Chevalier for Lille and De Lange stepping in for Pau López. Despite the changes, both keepers delivered strong performances, with Mannone’s heroics in the shootout ultimately making the difference.

Lille now advances to the quarterfinals, continuing their strong form across all competitions. Marseille, meanwhile, will look to regroup and maintain their momentum in Ligue 1.