Paris Saint-Germain kept their hopes of a record-extending 16th Coupe de France title alive, edging past Lens in a dramatic penalty shootout. Matvey Safonov, deputizing for the injured Gianluigi Donnarumma, was the hero of the night, saving two crucial penalties to secure a 4-3 shootout victory after a tense 1-1 draw in regulation time.
Match Recap
The match was a cagey affair, with both sides struggling to find a breakthrough in normal time. PSG thought they had taken the lead in the 26th minute when Achraf Hakimi slotted home, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.
Lens capitalized on their defensive solidity and took the lead in the 61st minute. A goalbound effort from Abdukodir Khusanov was inadvertently deflected into the net by M’Bala Nzola, giving the hosts a shock advantage.
PSG responded swiftly, with Gonçalo Ramos stepping up just four minutes later. The Portuguese striker pounced on a defensive error from Kevin Danso, firing into the roof of the net to level the score and send the game into penalties.
Penalty Drama
The shootout began with both sides confidently converting their first three penalties. However, Lens faltered when Nzola’s effort was saved by Safonov. PSG’s Bradley Barcola converted his spot-kick to pile pressure on Lens, and Safonov delivered again, denying Andy Diouf to clinch the victory for PSG.
Key Performances
- Matvey Safonov (PSG): The stand-in goalkeeper was the star of the night, making two decisive saves in the shootout to ensure PSG’s progression.
- Gonçalo Ramos (PSG): Coming off the bench, Ramos made an immediate impact, scoring the equalizer and maintaining PSG’s hopes of advancing.
- Abdukodir Khusanov (Lens): Played a pivotal role in Lens’ goal, though his effort was ultimately deflected by Nzola.
Data Debrief
- PSG dominated the attacking metrics with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.74 from 18 attempts, compared to Lens’ 1.05 from 12 shots.
- Gonçalo Ramos achieved a unique feat, becoming only the second PSG player in history to score in three consecutive Coupe de France matches as a substitute, following Jacky Remond in 1970.
What’s Next?
PSG advance to the last 32 of the Coupe de France, where they will face fourth-tier side Espaly. Luis Enrique’s side will look to build on this hard-fought victory as they aim to add another trophy to their illustrious cabinet. Lens, meanwhile, will turn their attention back to Ligue 1 as they seek to bounce back from this narrow defeat.
