Dutchman Justin Kluivert bagged a brace as OGC Nice dominated south-coast rivals Marseille 4-1 at the Allianz Riviera to join Monaco and fourth-tier minnows Versailles in the Coupe de France semi-finals.
After trumping PSG on penalties in the round of 16, OGC Nice went one better against direct Ligue 1 Uber Eats rivals Marseille on Wednesday, Christophe Galtier's men doing all the scoring in a 4-1 triumph.
Fireworks up front
Les Aiglons' young left-back Melvin Bard got things started when he inadvertently turned Marcin Bulka's parry of a Cengiz Ünder shot into his own net (03', o.g.), but in-form frontman Amine Gouiri got things moving in the right direction (10') soon after and Nice never looked back.
Kluivert's stunning double - a sharp header (29') and thunderbolt that crashed in off the underside of the bar (49') - came on either side of the half-time break before the Dutchman teed up Andy Delort to round out the scoring (61') in the resounding win that saw Nice progress to the Coupe de France semi-finals in style.
Galtier: 'The players reacted perfectly'
"There was a great atmosphere, two great teams on the field, with different styles, and this qualification at the end, which was our objective," said Nice coach Christophe Galtier. "The game was intense with the first goal conceded where we could have dropped our heads. But the players reacted perfectly. They played well in defence and showed their ability to get forward and score beautiful goals. We needed a lot of concentration, character after our game on Sunday [a defeat against Clermont]. To beat OM, you always have to have a great game and the team was able to do it."
The semi-final draw, held after the match, pitted Galtier's side against National 2 (D4) side Versailles, who beat National 2 rivals Bergerac 5-4 on penalties.
Banana skin?
"We will now face Versailles in the semi-finals," continued the experienced Galtier. "I had a situation like that at Sochaux when I was Alain Perrin's assistant. We played Montceau-les-Mines and we had to go to extra time to get through. It's a match we'll take very seriously."
Meanwhile AS Monaco will face the winner of Nantes and Bastia - whose quarter-final will be played on Thursday - in the other semi-final.
>> PREVIEW: Kombouaré looks to attacking trio for Coupe coup
