Sochaux secured passage to the Coupe de France Round of 32 back in December, but not without a significant challenge from amateur side Stade Béthunois. The 4-2 victory on December 20, 2025, confirmed the professional outfit's progression, though Stade Hermant Deprez witnessed a spirited effort from the hosts.
Understand Stade Béthunois, under coach J. Wallemme, deployed a 4-3-3 formation, aiming for an upset. Vincent Hognon's Sochaux, lined up in a 4-2-3-1, faced early resistance. Sochaux players Mohamed Touré, Honoré Bayanginisa, and Abderrezzek Saidi each received yellow cards within the opening 28 minutes, indicating a robust, perhaps overzealous, initial approach to the contest. This aggressive stance saw them concede a crucial early goal.
Stade Béthunois capitalized on their opportunity in the 32nd minute. G. Niangadou, a standout performer for the home side, found the net following an assist from T. Evrard, sending the home crowd into celebration. This goal represented a clear tactical success for Béthunois, who managed to breach Sochaux's defense despite less possession.
The second half brought about a decisive shift in momentum. Sochaux, having made two changes at half time, bringing on Benjamin Gomel for Honoré Bayanginisa and Kapitbafan Djoco for Julien Vetro, began to assert their expected dominance. The green light for their comeback arrived in the 61st minute when K. Djoco converted a penalty, leveling the score. Djoco's impact, alongside Gomel's fresh legs, was immediate and tangible.
Sochaux then pushed ahead. In the 78th minute, Elson Mendes found the back of the net, marking the first time Sochaux led in the match. Just five minutes later, Boubacar Fofana extended the lead, with K. Djoco providing the assist, confirming the effectiveness of Sochaux's attacking package. Mendes was not finished, adding his second goal in the 89th minute, assisted by Benjamin Gomel, sealing the win for Sochaux.
Stade Béthunois managed a late consolation goal in the 90th minute, with G. Niangadou scoring his second of the match, assisted by T. Verbeke. Niangadou's performance, registering two goals from two shots on target and earning a 9.7 rating, was a bright spot for the hosts.
Match Statistics
| Statistic | Stade Béthunois | Sochaux |
|---|---|---|
| Shots on Goal | 3 | 5 |
| Shots off Goal | 6 | 4 |
| Total Shots | 10 | 9 |
| Ball Possession | 38% | 62% |
| Fouls | 21 | 7 |
| Corner Kicks | 3 | 4 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 3 |
| Total Passes | 262 | 455 |
| Passes Accurate | 180 | 369 |
| Passes % | 69% | 81% |
| Goalkeeper Saves | 1 | 1 |
Sochaux's tactical shift and increased intensity after the break proved too much for the amateur side. Their control of possession, registering 62%, eventually translated into critical goals. Béthunois, despite committing 21 fouls, demonstrated a resilient spirit, particular through G. Niangadou's efforts. The agreement was clear: Sochaux had the quality to overcome the early scare.
Sochaux progresses to the next round of the Coupe de France. For Stade Béthunois, the journey ends, but with the pride of having pushed a professional team and, for a period, threatened a genuine cup upset.
