PARIS: Kylian Mbappe was on target as Paris St Germain eased to a 3-1 win over Nice on Wednesday to secure a spot in the Coupe de France semi-finals.

Mbappe gave the hosts the lead in the 14th minute, threading the ball between Nice keeper Marcin Bulka’s legs after a skilful one-two with Fabian Ruiz.

PSG doubled their lead in the 33rd when Bulka sent a clearance to winger Ousmane Dembele, with the ball spinning to Ruiz, who calmly slotted into the open net.

Nice pulled a goal back four minutes later when Jeremie Boga embarked on a splendid run into the box and the ball found its way to Gaetan Laborde, who fired home on the half-volley.

Lucas Beraldo, however, wrapped up the win for PSG when he headed home on the hour mark.

There was a long delay minutes after the goal as Bulka took a knee to the nose which required treatment and a change of shirt for the keeper.

Ten points clear at the top of Ligue 1 and through to the Champions League quarter-finals, the result means PSG remain in with a chance of winning a clean sweep of honours this season.

“The team has clearly improved and I think we will keep improving,” said Luis Enrique. “We are in a key moment of the season, into the final third, and we are still alive in every competition. We need to remain humble and try to be even more competitive, but we are in great form.”

The capital side, record 14-time winners of the Coupe de France, will now play Stade Rennais at home in the semi-finals on April 3, with Olympique Lyonnais hosting second-tier Valenciennes in the other tie a day earlier.

PSG have won the competition six times in the last decade but failed to do so in either of the last two years. This year’s final will be played in Lille on May 25.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2024