Soccer Football - Coupe de France - Round of 32 - Nantes v Olympique Lyonnais - The Stade de la Beaujoire - Louis Fonteneau, Nantes, France - January 18, 2020 Olympique Lyonnais' Mathis Ryan Cherki scores their first goal REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
Teenager Rayan Cherki scored two and set up another as Olympique Lyonnais avoided a last-gasp slip-up to advance into the French Cup last 16 with a 4-3 win at Nantes on Saturday.
The 16-year-old netted twice within the opening nine minutes to inspire Lyon to victory despite Nantes's late fightback while other Ligue 1 teams struggled against lower sides.
St Etienne dug deep to beat Ligue 2 team Paris FC 3-2 in the capital after being behind 2-1 until the 71st minute. Lille left it late to down fifth division Gonfreville 2-0 with goals by Loic Remy and Victor Osimhen in the 69th minute and in stoppage time.
Soccer Football - Coupe de France - Round of 32 - Nantes v Olympique Lyonnais - The Stade de la Beaujoire - Louis Fonteneau, Nantes, France - January 18, 2020 Olympique Lyonnais' Mathis Ryan Cherki scores their first goal REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
In Nantes, Cherki collected Moussa Dembele's pass before dribbling past goalkeeper Alban Lafont for a first-minute opener.
He doubled the tally eight minutes later, latching onto Bertrand Traore's cross.
Renaud Emon headed home to reduce the arrears in the 16th minute, only for Cherki to set up Martin Terrier for OL's third with a defence-splitting pass eight minutes from halftime.
Soccer Football - Coupe de France - Round of 32 - Nantes v Olympique Lyonnais - The Stade de la Beaujoire - Louis Fonteneau, Nantes, France - January 18, 2020 Olympique Lyonnais' Anthony Lopes collects the ball from Nantes' Renaud Emond REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
Dembele gave the visitors a three-goal lead in the 69th, tapping the ball home after Lafont had parried his penalty kick into his path.
The Canaries came close to forcing extra time with late goals by Imran Louza and Moses Simon but OL hung on to advance.
On Sunday, 12-time Cup winners Paris St Germain travel to Lorient.
Soccer Football - Coupe de France - Round of 32 - Nantes v Olympique Lyonnais - The Stade de la Beaujoire - Louis Fonteneau, Nantes, France - January 18, 2020 Nantes' Moses Simon scores their third goal REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
Soccer Football - Coupe de France - Round of 32 - Nantes v Olympique Lyonnais - The Stade de la Beaujoire - Louis Fonteneau, Nantes, France - January 18, 2020 Nantes' Mehdi Abeid in action with Olympique Lyonnais' Jason Denayer REUTERS/Stephane MaheSoccer Football - Coupe de France - Round of 32 - Nantes v Olympique Lyonnais - The Stade de la Beaujoire - Louis Fonteneau, Nantes, France - January 18, 2020 Nantes' Imran Louza in action with Olympique Lyonnais' Jason Denayer REUTERS/Stephane MaheSoccer Football - Coupe de France - Round of 32 - Nantes v Olympique Lyonnais - The Stade de la Beaujoire - Louis Fonteneau, Nantes, France - January 18, 2020 Nantes' Imran Louza in action with Olympique Lyonnais' Jason Denayer REUTERS/Stephane MaheSoccer Football - Coupe de France - Round of 32 - Nantes v Olympique Lyonnais - The Stade de la Beaujoire - Louis Fonteneau, Nantes, France - January 18, 2020 Olympique Lyonnais' Bertrand Traore in action with Nantes' Charles Traore REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
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