Brest have booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France courtesy of a 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Ligue 1 side Metz at the Stade Saint-Symphorien this evening.
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Chances were few and far between during an even opening 45 minutes, with Brest creating the clearest two within quick succession of each other.
First Chakhir Belghazouani struck a volley towards goal that was kept out before Simon Falette failed to convert his header from the resulting corner.
The visitors created the first real chance of the match in the opening stages of the second half when Bryan Pele's free kick found the head of Falette, only for Johann Carrasso to make the save.
It continued to be the Ligue 2 high-flyers who were asking the main questions and they came close again with 20 minutes remaining when Youssef Adnane's effort at the far post went narrowly wide.
Neither side could break the deadlock in regulation time, however, as the match went into the additional 30 minutes of extra time still goalless.
It proved to be much the same story throughout extra time too, with neither team creating a meaningful chance as the match went to a penalty shootout.
Sylvain Marchal was the first to slip up as his spot kick hit the post, but the Metz man was given an immediate reprieve as Wilfried Moimbe missed the very next penalty.
Jeremy Choplin then saw his penalty saved by Joan Hartock, and Abel Khaled made no mistake with the chance to wrap the game up as he tucked his spot kick away from 12 yards, sending his side through.
Brest will now face fellow Ligue 2 side Auxerre in the last eight.
Barney Corkhill
