Strasbourg dump Caen to claim French League Cup

Strasbourg's players celebrate with the League Cup trophy after their victory in the French League Cup final football match agains Caen at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. Strasbourg won 2-1.

Strasbourg compounded the miserable season of fellow league strugglers Caen with a 2-1 win at Stade de France which handed the Alsatian outfit their second French League Cup title.

Goals in either half from Senagalese striker Mamadou Niang and Jean-Christophe Devaux gave Strasbourg the title they last won in 1997, also under coach Jacky Dugueperoux, along with a UEFA Cup berth next season.

Caen, almost certain of a return to the Second Division next season, put up a brave fight in front of a League Cup record crowd of 78,721 at Stade de France with Sebastien Mazure grabbing an equaliser to put both sides level going into the break.

Strasbourg's Niang made much of the early running through Caen's defence and his persistence paid off after 39 minutes when he headed in after a superb centre from midfielder Yacine Abdessadki.

But Caen hit back four minutes later when Mazure controlled the ball well to grab the equaliser.

Back after the break the pace was less frenetic, but although Strasbourg dominated the pitch their Norman opponents were still very much in the tie.

Niang missed a chance to pull ahead again after 63, but Strasbourg had to wait until 16 minutes later before a Devaux free kick found its target.

Caen desperately pushed forward in a bid to find the equaliser with coach Patrick Remy replacing midfield defender Ronald Zubar by Cyrille Watier six minutes from time.

But their efforts were to no avail with a last-gasp centre from midfielder Benoit Lesoimier to Mazure headed out by Strasbourg's tight defence.

The Alsatians must now set their sights on avoiding the drop next season as they sit just four points below the drop zone in 14th position.