PSG are trying to end the 2019-20 season on a strong note, and they won the first of three titles they have at their disposal in the coming weeks. Les Parisiens secured the Coupe de France title thanks to a 1-0 win over Saint-Etienne on Friday.
The lone goal of the match came in the 14th minute thanks to Neymar. The biggest news of the match, however, was the injury sustained by Kylian Mbappe midway into the first half.
Neymar scores, Mbappe leaves injured in busy first half
Despite the fact PSG dominated most of the match, Saint-Etienne generated the first clear chance of the game thanks to Romain Hamouma. The forward rattled Keylor Navas’ right post with a shot from inside the box. That was a wake-up call for Les Parisiens, and they didn’t waste time to net the opener thanks to Neymar. The Brazilian pounced on a rebound to find the back of the net in the 14th minute.
Les Parisiens had to deal with the injury of Thilo Kehrer, but he wouldn’t be the only PSG player that would leave the game before the game after picking up a knock. The same thing happened with Mbappe, who had to be taken off the game following a criminal challenge from Loic Perrin. The St. Etienne defender was sent off after the referee, Amaury Delerue, checked the sequence with the VAR.
PSG didn’t generate many chances the rest of the way, but they could have added a second goal on stoppage time. Mauro Icardi tested the opposing goalkeeper from inside the box, but Jessy Moulin made a huge save against the Argentina international. The first half ended with a 1-0 lead for PSG.
PSG cruise towards win in the second half
St. Etienne made two changes after halftime, sending Yvan Neyou Noupa and Wahbi Khazri to replace Mehdi Camara and Hamouma, respectively. The substitutes didn’t make much of an impact throughout the contest, though.
Instead, PSG generated the best chances. They had a second goal ruled out for offside and could’ve added another strike thanks to Pablo Sarabia, but the Spaniard was unable to capitalize on his clearer chance.
There were not many emotions the rest of the way, though, and PSG didn’t have major problems to secure the title. It was the club’s second domestic title this season after they were crowned as champions in the 2019-20 Ligue 1 season.
Match Report
Paris SG: Navas; Kehrer (Dagba, min. 20), Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Bakker; Di Maria, Paredes (Verratti, min. 75), Gueye, Neymar; Icardi, Mbappe (Sarabia, min. 33)
St. Etienne: Moulin; Debuchy (Krasso, min. 83), Fofana, Perrin, Kolo; Camara (Neyou Noupa, min. 46), M’Vila; Macon (Moukoudi, min. 34), Boudebouz (Nordin, min. 75), Bouanga; Hamouma (Khazri, min. 46)
Goals: Neymar (1-0, min. 14)
Referee: Amaury Delerue
Yellow Cards: Bakker, Paredes, Verratti, Marquinhos (PSG); Macon, Hamouma, Moulin, Camara, M’Vila, Fofana (STE)
Red Cards: Perrin (STE)
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