Malinovskyi fires Marseille to first home win over PSG in 12 years
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MARSEILLE: Ruslan Malinovskyi scored an excellent second-half winner as Olympique de Marseille beat bitter rivals Paris St Germain at home for the first time since 2011 on Wednesday, winning 2-1 to reach the Coupe de France quarter-finals.
Alexis Sanchez gave Marseille the lead just after the half-hour mark from the penalty spot after Cengiz Under had been brought down by Sergio Ramos, before Ramos made up for his mistake as he headed home Neymar’s corner two minutes into first-half stoppage time.
But Ukraine international Malinovskyi blasted the hosts back in front with a vicious half-volley from just outside the box and they held on to end their long wait for a victory over PSG at Stade Velodrome.
“We know that our supporters have been waiting for that victory for a long time. We are happy to share this with them,” Marseille captain Valentin Rongier told France 3 after only his side’s second win in their last 27 meetings with PSG.
It was a second straight early Cup exit for record 14-time winners PSG after last season’s last-16 loss to Nice.
PSG have now lost three times already in 2023 and the Cup defeat comes less than a week before they take on Bayern Munich in their Champions League last-16 first leg.
Without the injured Kylian Mbappe, who will also miss the Bayern clash, PSG struggled and according to captain Marquinhos, they will now need to “shut [their] mouth and work” to bounce back.
“They pressed high and we did not manage to break the lines. It hurts because it was a Cup game against our great rival,” Marquinhos added.
Elsewhere, Olympique Lyonnais knocked out Lille 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
Holders Nantes edged past Ligue 1 bottom club Angers on penalties after Florent Mollet scored an 87th-minute equaliser to force spot-kicks following a 1-1 draw.
AJ Auxerre were beaten 3-2 at home by Ligue 2 side Rodez, who advanced after scoring with all three of their attempts on target.
Toulouse saw off in-form Reims 3-1, while second-tier clubs Annecy and Grenoble also booked their places in the last eight.
Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2023
