Nice edged Dijon in a thrilling French League Cup quarter-final 5-3 on penalties after the two sides were locked together at 3-3 following extra time on Wednesday.
Three times Nice fell behind and three times they managed to get back on terms, before coming out on top in the penalty shoot-out after Dijon's Younousse Sankhare failed to convert his spot-kick.
Thomas Guerbert put Dijon, who had knocked out Paris Saint Germain in the last round, into a 19th minute lead, with Brice Jovial (62nd minute) and Eric Bautheac's 115th minute penalty after a foul on Sankhare keeping them on course for the semi-finals.
But after Anthony Mounier (35) and Renato Civelli (78) had drawn Nice back level twice it was left to Argentine Luciano Monzon to produce a superb freekick in the 117th minute to send the tie to penalties.
Nice's win came on the day they announced the arrival on a six month loan deal of Gael Kakuta from Premier league giants Chelsea.
Lorient joined Nice in the last four after Giles Sunu produced the only goal of the game in the 70th minute to give the visitors a 1-0 win at Le Mans.
Lyon face Lille later Wednesday.
On Tuesday Marseille's quest for a third consecutive title was kept firmly afloat when Didier Deschamps' side booked their semi-final ticket with a 3-0 win at Caen.
Mathieu Valbuena bagged a double with one time Tottenham target Loic Remy also on the scoresheet.
Source: AFP
