Stade de Reims Triumphs Over AS Monaco in Penalty Shootout

REIMS, France — Stade de Reims secured a dramatic victory over AS Monaco in a penalty shootout, advancing to the next round of the 2024-25 Coupe de France. The match, held at Stade Auguste-Delaune II on January 14, 2025, ended 1-1 in regulation time before Reims triumphed 3-1 in penalties.

The decisive moment came in the 97th minute when Oumar Diakité converted the final penalty, sending the ball into the bottom left corner of the net. This sealed the win for Reims, who had earlier seen successful penalties from Keito Nakamura, Mika Biereth, and Cedric Kipre. Monaco’s lone penalty conversion came from Caio Henrique.

Despite Monaco dominating possession with 68.1% compared to Reims’ 31.9%, the home team managed to hold their ground. Reims recorded 10 shot attempts, with 3 on target, while Monaco had 14 attempts, 4 of which were on goal. Both teams received one yellow card each during the match.

The penalty shootout was a tense affair, with Reims’ goalkeeper making crucial saves to deny Monaco’s attempts. The victory marks a significant achievement for Reims, who now advance to the next stage of the prestigious tournament.

“It was a tough match, but the team showed great character,” said Reims’ coach in a post-match interview. “We knew it would come down to small details, and the players executed perfectly in the shootout.”

Monaco’s coach expressed disappointment but acknowledged the quality of the opposition. “We had our chances, but credit to Reims for their resilience. We’ll regroup and focus on our next challenges,” he said.

The match drew a large crowd at Stade Auguste-Delaune II, with fans witnessing a thrilling encounter that showcased the unpredictability of knockout football. Reims will now look forward to their next fixture in the Coupe de France, aiming to continue their cup run.