French Cup Thrills: Team Qualifies After 44 Penalties, Saint-Étienne Wins 11-1!

The eighth-round match of the French Cup, played last Saturday between Steinfurt and Béthune, both regional first division (R1) teams, ended dramatically after a goalless 0-0 draw in regular time, with the winner decided by a lengthy penalty shootout.

Visiting team Béthune secured a 21-20 victory in the shootout, ensuring a historic qualification to the last 32 of the competition. Players celebrated this achievement on Steinfurt's home ground.

The penalty shootout followed a lackluster goalless draw. It was highly dramatic, with most players having to take two penalties, except for one player from each team, culminating in a tense victory for the visitors.

Both teams missed one penalty each from their first five attempts. Goals then continued without any goalkeeper managing to save a shot, until a crucial penalty was missed in the final attempts.

In another match from the same round, Ligue 2 side Saint-Étienne achieved a massive 11-1 victory over their guests, Entente Sannois Saint-Gratien, who play in the regional second division (R2). Moroccan-origin player Nadhir El Jamali (18 years old) scored a brace, marking his first professional goals.