Sports
HOLDERS Paris St Germain (PSG) were taken to extra time by third division side Villefranche Beaujolais on Wednesday, but they still reached the French Cup quarter-finals.
That was after substitutes Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani helped them to a 3-0 win.
After starting with a second-string team, the capital side had to rely on Mbappe and Cavani.
The duo had a hand in all three goals, to dig them out of a hole following a goalless draw after 90 minutes.
Uruguay striker Cavani set up Julian Draxler for the opener in the 102nd minute.
France forward Mbappe gifted the second to Moussa Diaby in the 113th, and teed up the third for Cavani in the 119th.
PSG struggled for long periods during the match at Lyon’s Groupama Stadium.
Coach Thomas Tuchel was even sent off in the 72nd minute when he lost his cool following a foul on midfielder Leandro Paredes.
Mbappe and Cavani started on the bench as Eric Choupo-Moting was fielded upfront.
Midfielder Marco Verratti, who has just returned to training after an ankle injury, was also left out of the squad.
PSG, who travel to Manchester United next Tuesday for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie, however dominated the game.
But winger Diaby missed a clear chance in the 13th minute as the hosts held firm.
With PSG struggling to break the deadlock, Angel Di Maria was replaced by Mbappe in the 62nd minute and Choupo-Moting by Cavani in the 79th.
The changes proved decisive as PSG, bidding to win a fifth consecutive French Cup, set up camp in the Villefranche half.
-NAN
BE
– Feb. 7, 2019 @ 09:57 GMT |
Tags: PSG need extra time to see off third division side
