SAINT-ÉTIENNE.
Paris Saint-Germain did what they had to and bounced back after the loss against Lyon.
Zlatan assisted to one goal and semi-assisted to another when they beat Saint-Étienne in the French cup and moved on to the semifinal.
Lucas came on and scored a beautiful gamewinning goal.
– The first goal; I pass forward to Cavani so he gets free. The second; I play the ball from the side and it's a goal, Zlatan said after the game.
It was time for quarterfinal in the French Cup and an opportunity for PSG to take revenge for the first domestic loss of the season against Lyon on Saturday.
ZLATAN-ASSIST NUMBER 13
PSG started well and kept most of the possession in the beginning. In the 13th minute Cavani gave Paris the lead, assisted by Zlatan. The Swede got the ball in the middle of the pitch - looked up, saw Cavani running between the Saint-Étienne-centre backs - and served with him a perfect pass. Cavani placed the ball nicely on the right side of Ruffier with his left , 0-1 to PSG.
MARQUINHOS UNUSUAL GOALSCORER
Ibrahimović was involved in the second goal as well. In the 35th minute he took a freekick from an outrageous distance which was blocked. He eventually got the ball back on the left side, crossed it low to Cavani in the box who beautifully backheeled it to the far post where right back Marquinhos showed up and put 0-2 into an open net.
KURZAWA-MISTAKE GAVE SAINT-ÉTIENNE HOPE
Saint-Étienne didn't really create many dangerous chances and it looked like PSG was gonna go to halftime with a comfortable two-goal-lead. But in the 43rd minute, from nothing, Malcuit got into PSG's penalty area and was fouled by Kurzawa, penalty for Saint-Étienne. Eysseric fooled Sirigu and it was game again, 1-2 at halftime.
LUCAS DRIBBLED HOME THE GAME
Saint-Étienne tried to push forward for the equalizer in the second and with the known passionate crowd in the back, they sure had the energy to try. They lacked quality however and it never really got dangerous. Instead PSG scored in the end (after having several chances before). Lucas was subbed on late and dribbled and dribbled before scoring in extra time. 1-3 to PSG, fulltime.
PSG through to the Semifinal in the French Cup.
Zlatan started the game and was involved in both goals in the first half. First he nicely served Cavani with a through ball to 0-1 and then he crossed the ball who via Cavani reached Marquinhos to 0-2. The assist to the first goal was Zlatan's 13th assist in all competitions.
He had one blocked header and one blocked freekick from about 40 meters (which led up to the goal). He looked alert and made few mistakes. Good first half.
In the second he didn't have the ball much in the first twenty minutes. He made a couple of moves and played safe when PSG was protecting the lead but the longer the game went the more open spaces he got. He got two good chances in the last fifteen minutes but no goals for Ibra today.
1 |
3 |
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Starting 11: |
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Goals: |
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Assists: |
1 |
Card: |
? |
Minutes: |
90' |
Shoes: |
ON GOAL/GOAL |
WIDE |
OVER |
BLOCKED |
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RIGHT FOOT |
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LEFT FOOT |
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HEADERS |
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FREEKICKS |
CAVANI out 87' |
PASTORE |
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LUCAS in 87' |
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Tonight (last night), you won 3-1 against Saint-Etienne and advance to semifinal in the French Cup. What do you think of the win?
You were very much involved in PSG's first two goals. Tell us about them.
A disappointed Blaise Matuidi had to leave the pitch tonight with injury problems. Any news on his status – and how would his absence affect the coming match against Chelsea?
You took some hits as well, and it looked like you were in pain a few times. Is it anything you feel now, after the match?
Source: Zlatan Unplugged.
