"There is always a story every year," French football expert Philipe Auclair told CNN.

"We had Quevilly last year which was a wonderful story and then in previous years we've had Calais and others.

"There are a lot more upsets in the French Cup, but this one is absolutely huge."

Huge indeed. It took the amateurs of Epinal just 13 minutes to move into a two-goal lead thanks to Tristan Boubaya.

His double strike allowed not just a town, but an entire country to dream.

This was the day when Epinal allowed France to fall in love with another minnow.

Like any romance, there are rocky moments. Two of those came within the next seven minutes as Lyon drew level.

The dream looked like it had died when Lisandro Lopez converted a penalty to leave Epinal's hopes in tatters with just 28 minutes remaining.

Not since the 18th century had so many printing presses been ready to illustrate the efforts of Epinal.

Famed for its printing cards of saints, wars and fairy tales, the town was about to receive a new legend to add to the list.

Step forward Valentin Focki. It was he who scored a precious equalizer with 13 minutes remaining to take the tie into extra-time and eventually came penalties.

And so it came down to the dreaded spot kicks. Many a man has crumbled under the pressure of trying to beat a goalkeeper from 12-yards.

Far greater players than those of Epinel have lost their nerve and fallen into the abyss.

But in Olivier Robin, Epinal had its hero. The goalkeeper ensured his face will be forever remembered on a picture card, saving a penalty to help bring down the might of Lyon.

Who said romance was dead?

"It's a really big shock," Damien Comolli, former Director of Football at AS Monaco, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham told CNN.

"Lyon has been playing very well this season and it's the first really big negative result they've had all season.

"The league title is almost guaranteed to Paris Saint-Germain and there are only a couple of other trophies for other teams to win.

"Lyon wanted to win this cup and for them to lose is a huge blow, it's a massive shock.

"Epinal are part-time and have jobs which allow them to train, they're a small team. Now, the focus on the club will be huge."

While Epinal's players bask in the limelight of its victory, it's unlikely that the town will rival Paris for romance in the long term.

The romance of the Coupe de France has been rekindled in a quiet town in the east of the country. For now, let Epinal have its day.