Paris Saint-Germain faced an unexpected challenge on Tuesday night but ultimately triumphed over USL Dunkerque with a 4-2 victory in the semi-finals of the French Cup, securing their place in the final. The match, held at the Pierre-Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, saw the Ligue 1 leaders recover from a shocking two-goal deficit to maintain their pursuit of an unprecedented 16th title in the tournament.
Dunkerque, a second-tier team, stunned the Parisians by taking the lead just seven minutes into the match. Vincent Sasso capitalized on a flicked ball from Alec Georgen, tapping it home off the underside of the crossbar. The home side doubled their advantage in the 27th minute when Muhannad Yahya Al-Saad volleyed a low shot past the PSG defense, catching them off guard.
PSG manager Luis Enrique reflected on the rocky start, stating, "It was a bit of a strange start to the game, they got into our box twice and scored two goals. We told ourselves at halftime not to lose our heads, to restructure everything and carry on." This rallying cry proved pivotal as the team regrouped during the break.
As the second half commenced, PSG came out with renewed vigor. Just before halftime, Ousmane Dembélé struck back for the visitors, scoring with a powerful shot after receiving a pass from Achraf Hakimi. This goal not only cut the deficit to 2-1 but also provided the momentum shift PSG desperately needed.
Three minutes after the restart, Marquinhos leveled the score for PSG with a header from Dembélé's corner kick, which had initially caused confusion among the Dunkerque players regarding whether it should have been awarded. The equalizer sent a wave of relief through the PSG camp and their supporters.
In the 62nd minute, Désiré Doué put PSG ahead for the first time in the match, as his shot deflected off a Dunkerque defender before finding the net. The Parisians were now firmly in control, but they weren't done yet. Dembélé sealed the comeback victory in stoppage time, scoring his 32nd goal of the season across all competitions.
Post-match, Marquinhos expressed his thoughts on the team's performance, saying, "This match will help us improve for the end of the season. It made us work on our courage. This is the best possible end to the season, the good times are coming. We're here now and we need to keep going like this." Dembélé echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the team's collective effort: "I'm always in a good position to score goals, but it's mainly a team effort. It's just like the first half against St Etienne. We had to react very quickly. We're going to take it one game at a time, it's the final stretch of the season. We're going to stay focused."
PSG will now look ahead to the final, scheduled for May 24, where they will face the winner of the upcoming match between Stade de Reims and fourth-tier Cannes. However, their immediate focus will be on securing their fourth consecutive Ligue 1 title, needing just one point from their next match against Angers on April 5.
As the season approaches its climax, PSG is also preparing for a crucial Champions League quarter-final against Aston Villa, set for April 9. This busy schedule will test the squad's depth and resilience as they aim for glory on multiple fronts.
Dunkerque's fairy tale run in the Cup ended with this match, but they can take pride in their remarkable journey, which included stunning victories over top-flight teams like Lille and Brest. Their performance against PSG, especially in the first half, showcased their potential and determination.
As the dust settles on this thrilling encounter, PSG's ability to bounce back from adversity will be a crucial takeaway as they push towards the end of the season, aiming to add more silverware to their already impressive collection.
