USL Dunkerque secured a dramatic 3-2 victory against Stade Brestois to reach the Coupe de France semi-finals for the first time in 96 years, with Bissau-Guinean midfielder Opa Sanganté emerging as the hero of the night.
Trailing 2-0 with 25 minutes remaining, Dunkirk appeared on the verge of elimination.
Brest had taken the lead through Pereira’s strike just before half-time in the 45th minute, before a 59th-minute own goal compounded the visitors’ woes.
However, Dunkirk staged a remarkable fightback, beginning with Sasso’s header in the 65th minute to halve the deficit.
The defining moment came when Sanganté found the net twice in quick succession, scoring in the 80th and 84th minutes to complete the turnaround and seal a place in the last four.
Sanganté’s performance was instrumental in Dunkirk’s historic achievement, with the Bissau-Guinean international’s composure and clinical finishing guiding his side to an unforgettable triumph.
Reflecting on the night, Sanganté’s contribution adds a new chapter to the club’s storied history, as Dunkirk had not reached the Coupe de France semi-finals since 1929.
With the semi-finals now on the horizon, Dunkirk will be hoping to build on this remarkable success and edge closer to lifting their first major trophy.
The team and their supporters are already savouring this unprecedented achievement, with Sanganté’s heroics firmly etched in the club’s history.
