Strasbourg savour Litex success

Novakovič miss
Midfielder Ulrich Le Pen gave Strasbourg the lead after just two minutes at the Gradski stadium in Lovech, and after Slovenian Milivoje Novakovič missed a 79th-minute penalty for the home side, Ivorian striker Amara Diané quickly doubled the visitors' advantage.

Le Pen opener
The Litex defence hardly had time to compose themselves before Le Pen's early strike as the 32-year-old left-sided midfielder met Guillaume Lacour's cross from the right wing, beating Vitomir Vutov with a low shot from 12 metres. Litex picked themselves up after that early setback and soon had a chance to equalise only for defender Rosen Kirilov to drill the ball over. But the visitors were enjoying most of the possession and created more chances later in the first half as Yacine Abdessadki's effort was blocked, while Le Pen shot wide.

Litex recovery
Litex looked much brighter after the break and came out with renewed intent, Kirilov again shooting over, before Jean-Philippe Caillet curled in an accurate free-kick which Nicolas Puydebois did well to save. Novakovič then missed a gilt-edged chance to level the scores with eleven minutes remaining after Cédric Kanté fouled Lyubomir Lyubenov in the penalty area. Novakovič struck the resulting spot-kick firmly only to see Puydebois superbly push the effort wide of goal.

Diané strike
The miss proved all the more costly for Litex when Diané doubled Strasbourg's advantage eight minutes from time, the 23-year-old finding the net with a right-footed finish. The Ligue 1 side will be confident of progressing to the last 16 when the two teams meet again at the Stade La Meinau next Thursday.