Defending champions PSG secured their ticket to the French Cup final after winning 4-2 over Dunkerque in the semifinals played at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille, Wednesday early morning IST.
Ousmane Dembele scored twice for PSG to take his tally to 32 goals in all competitions this season, while captain Marquinhos and Desire Doue also scored for the French capital side.
In the final to be played at the Stade de France on May 24, PSG will meet the winner of the match between Reims and fourth-tier Cannes.
Dunkerque currently play in the second tier (Ligue 2) and for the first time in 96 years, they are playing in the semi-finals of the French Cup. The team had dreams of making a surprise after being able to lead 2-0 against PSG in the 27th minute of the match.
Having eliminated three top-flight sides on their way to the last four, Dunkerque took the lead in the seventh minute when Alec Georgen’s free-kick from the left was met by Vincent Sasso’s header to open the scoring.
Dunkerque doubled their lead in the 27th minute. Gaetan Courtet headed a long ball from the goalkeeper to Saudi Arabia’s Muhammad Al-Saad who raced past Dunkerque to score the second goal.
However, PSG soon showed their quality when Achraf Hakimi cut inside and passed the ball for Dembele to finish into a goal in the 45th minute.
PSG equalized in the 48th minute when Marquinhos headed in Dembele’s cross to level the score at 2-2.
Naatan Skytta almost restored Dunkerque’s lead minutes later, but it was Doue who played a one-two with Bradley Barcola before slotting home for PSG in the 62nd minute.
As Dunkerque tried to attack all out to equalize, Dembele moved quickly to score his second goal and seal a 4-2 victory for PSG in the 90+3 minute.
PSG will be confirmed as French League champions on Saturday (5/4) if they avoid defeat against Angers.
The capital club will then face Aston Villa next week, in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
