PSG complete thrilling comeback against Dunkerque to reach Coupe de France final
Paris Saint-Germain narrowly avoided a significant upset by overcoming a two-goal deficit against Dunkerque, ultimately securing a 4-2 victory that propels them to the Coupe de France final, just one match away from claiming the title for the 16th time.
Dunkerque's previous appearance in the semi-finals of this tournament dates back to 1929, and they shocked the Parisians just seven minutes into the match. Despite being largely on the defensive, Les Maritimes capitalized on their opportunity when Alec Georgen redirected Naatan Skytta’s free-kick to the back post, allowing Vincent Sasso to strike the ball off the underside of the crossbar and into the net.
PSG quickly regained their attacking momentum, yet most of Luis Castro’s squad remained entrenched near their own penalty area, successfully thwarting attempts from Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola, and Desire Doue.
The relentless efforts of PSG were met with a resolute Dunkerque defense, which erupted in celebration again in the 27th minute. Gaetan Courtet directed Ewen Jaouen’s long pass towards Muhannad Al-Saad, who skillfully maneuvered past Nuno Mendes to finish with precision.
After Dunkerque had successfully defended against a barrage of shots from PSG, Dembele finally breached their defenses with a powerful strike in the 45th minute.
Both Skytta and Al-Saad had attempts blocked before halftime, and Dunkerque expressed their frustration three minutes into the second half when a corner was awarded to PSG following a missed header by Marquinhos. The resulting corner led to the Brazilian heading the ball past Jaouen.
Skytta came agonizingly close to scoring an immediate response before PSG intensified their pressure once more. Doue had one shot blocked and sent another wide, while Dembele's powerful attempt was saved.
The home team faced further misfortune when Doue's shot took a significant deflection, leaving Jaouen unable to react in time to prevent the ball from getting past him. Dunkerque remained resilient, with Yacine Bammou displaying determination after coming on as a substitute. However, Les Parisiens continued to press forward, and Achraf Hakimi's shot required a save to be deflected behind, while Jaouen managed to deny another deflected attempt from Doue.
After making several spirited attempts to find an equalizer, Les Maritimes were ultimately defeated in the 94th minute when Dembele seized on a defensive error, racing through to calmly slot the ball into the net. This victory allowed PSG to maintain their unbeaten domestic record this season and secure a place in the Coupe de France final.
Additionally, this match marked Dunkerque's fourth consecutive defeat across all competitions, though this should not overshadow the pride they can take from an impressive run that included victories over three top-flight teams.
SportsLigue