PARIS: Valenciennes ended third-tier Rouen`s dream French Cup run with a penalty shoot-out victory on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1970 after a 1-1 draw.

Hosts Rouen had knocked out both holders Toulouse and AS Monaco on penalties in previous rounds en route to the last eight.

But they could not repeat the feat as Abdejalil Sahloune and Zana Allee both saw their spot-kicks saved by Valenciennes goalkeeper Jean Louchet as the visitors won the shoot-out 4-2.

Nigerian forward Mathias Oyewusi had headed Valenciennes, who sit rock bottom of Ligue 2, into a 26th-minute lead.

Rouen managed to force penalties as Damien Loppy scored on the rebound in the first minute of added time after his penalty was saved by Louchet.

Paris St-Germain host Nice in the last quarterfinal in two weeks` time.

-AFP