PSG defeats Monaco 2-0 to reach semifinal of Coupe de France
PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain remains on course for a domestic treble after beating Monaco 2-0 to reach the French Cup semifinals on Wednesday.
Former Chelsea player David Luiz gave PSG the lead in the third minute, and striker Edinson Cavani grabbed his 18th goal of the season to make it 2-0 after 52 minutes.
The teams had met in the French league on Sunday, when PSG missed a glut of chances in a 0-0 draw which only served to highlight the absence of top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic — who missed both games against Monaco through suspension.
PSG, which is second in the French league and through to the League Cup final, joins fellow first division side Saint-Etienne in the semis.
Saint-Etienne beat third-tier Boulogne-sur-Mer 4-3 on penalties in a shootout on Tuesday.
In Thursday's quarters, Brest faces Auxerre in all-second division match, and rank outsider Concarneau — which plays in the amateur fourth tier — faces defending champion Guingamp.
After Luiz headed in Ezequiel Lavezzi's free kick, PSG survived a scare in the 20th when Burkina Faso midfielder Alain Traore's powerful strike came back off the crossbar.
Monaco also got a reprieve midway through the first half when Javier Pastore's header glanced off the bar.
After Pastore again went close for PSG, Cavani latched onto a fine a pass from midfielder Marco Verratti, controlled the ball well and fired a low shot past Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.
Then, within the space of a minute, Pastore — who missed good chances against Monaco on Sunday night — and Cavani both hit the post.
Pastore's woeful finishing was evident again, when a minute after hitting the woodwork, he missed the target from six meters out and then saw another effort saved by Stekelenburg right before the end.
Also Wednesday, striker Clarck Nsikulu scored the only goal as Evian beat Lorient 1-0 at home in the French league to move three points clear of the relegation zone.
Lorient, which dropped to 17th place and is one point and one place behind Evian, had a penalty claim waved away when fullback Youssouf Sabaly appeared to foul striker Jordan Ayew.
