CANNES (AFP) – Reims clung on for a 2-1 victory at fourth-division Cannes to set up a French Cup final meeting with holders Paris Saint-Germain in May.
Cannes were looking to become the first fourth-tier club to reach the final since Calais lost to Nantes in the 2000 showpiece, but came up just short.
“There’s no disappointment, just pride,” said Cannes coach Damien Ott.
“The equaliser was an incredible adrenaline rush. But they scored again very quickly. They won by being solid.”
Ligue 1 side Reims moved to within one win of lifting their first major trophy since the 1991 French League Cup.
They will face PSG, who came from two goals down to defeat second-tier Dunkerque 4-2 on Tuesday, at the Stade de France on May 24.
“I’m happy with the progress we’ve made in recent weeks,” said Reims coach Samba Diawara, whose side beat Marseille in Ligue 1 at the weekend to boost their hopes of avoiding relegation.
Cannes will turn their attentions back to their attempt to win promotion to the third tier for the first time since 2011.
They were regulars in the top flight in the late 1980s and the 1990s, boasting Zinedine Zidane and Patrick Vieira as former players.
Reims took a 14th-minute lead when Mamadou Diakhon powered to the byline and pulled the ball back for his fellow 19-year-old Hafiz Ibrahim to turn the ball into an empty net.
