Sakho gaffe sends PSG out of League Cup

A comical own goal from Paris Saint-Germain defender Mamadou Sakho handed second-division Guingamp a 1-0 victory and a place in the quarter-finals of the French League Cup on Wednesday.

The promising 19-year-old defender horribly sliced an attempted clearance over his own goalkeeper Apoula Edel and into the net in the 80th minute after Brazilian forward Gilmar had seen his attempted lob parried.

Guingamp had been made to weather stern pressure throughout the last-16 tie at their icy Stade du Roudourou home, with PSG veteran Ludovic Giuly seeing an effort cleared off the line and driving a blistering shot against the crossbar.

The hosts’ victory was rendered all the more impressive by the fact that midfielder Moustapha Diallo had been sent off barely four minutes before Sakho’s own goal for an ugly two-footed lunge on Jean-Eudes Maurice.

“It’s a huge disappointment because we have been knocked out,” said PSG coach Antoine Kombouare.

“There were a lot of problems with our game, both in attack and in defence. When you can’t score, you are always vulnerable.”

Second-division Metz were unable to repeat their 3-1 victory over Lyon at the same stage of last season’s competition as they were well-beaten 3-0 at the Stade Gerland.

Jeremy Toulalan and a late brace from Argentine striker Lisandro Lopez assured a quarter-final spot for Lyon while Metz finished with 10 men after goalkeeper Christophe Marichez was sent-off for a foul on Lopez.

Marseille needed a last-minute goal from Mamadou Niang to secure a 3-2 win at Saint-Etienne.

Niang, who came on as a 63rd-minute substitute following a month-long injury lay-off, struck with just seconds left to put his side into the last eight after Marseille had trailed 2-1.

Bakary Sako put Saint-Etienne in front after 18 minutes with Brandao levelling 10 minutes later.

Argentine striker Gonzalo Bergessio restored his side’s lead in the 31st minute but Brazilian import Brandao was on target to make it 2-2 on the hour mark.

Holders Bordeaux’s tie at Le Mans was postponed for the second time in two days after local authorities deemed the home side’s snowbound pitch unplayable.