Football
Associated Press 7y

Monaco beat Marseille in thriller, PSG ease past Niort to reach quarterfinals

Monaco took their season tally to an astonishing 117 goals, beating Marseille 4-3 away on Wednesday in a pulsating match to reach the Coupe de France quarterfinals and remain on course for a domestic treble.

Monaco top the French league ahead of PSG and they meet in the League Cup final next month. Both are still involved in the Champions League in one of the most exciting seasons in French football for many years.

That the match in Marseille went to extra time was a credit to the home side's tenacity, especially after the 5-1 drubbing by PSG on Sunday night.

Marseille twice came from behind to force extra time and equalized again in extra time.

But Monaco's razor-sharp attack shredded Marseille on the counter, making it the 13th time this season Monaco have scored at least four goals in one game. Monaco beat Marseille 4-0 at home and 4-1 away in the league.

Monaco forward Kylian Mbappe further underlined his reputation as one of the rising stars of European football with a fine finish and an unselfish assist. The 18-year-old forward was also involved in the build-up for the winner, scored by midfielder Thomas Lemar, and tormented Marseille's defense with his electric speed and sudden changes of direction.

Monaco's first came in the 19th minute, when Portugal midfielder Joao Moutinho's free kick hit the post and then bounced back off goalkeeper Yohann Pele.

Moments before half-time, Marseille playmaker Dimitri Payet swiveled to meet winger Florian Thauvin's cross from the left with a superb half-volley.

Mbappe, recently impressive against Manchester City in the Champions League, scored his 13th goal of the season midway through the second half. He timed his run to the front post perfectly, and then used a subtle touch to flick left-back Benjamin Mendy's cross into the right corner.

However, Marseille winger Remy Cabella made it 2-2 with six minutes left, tucking away a pass from Japan right-back Hiroki Sakai.

Monaco's third started deep inside their own half and ended with Mbappe bursting through from halfway before unselfishly squaring for Mendy. But poor defending gifted Cabella his second goal of the night.

Lemar thumped home the winner from Mendy's pass with seven minutes left in extra time.

Substitute Javier Pastore scored an opportunist late goal and then set up Edinson Cavani as Paris Saint-Germain won 2-0 at second-tier Niort.

With 12 minutes remaining, Pastore reacted quickly to slide in Christopher Nkunku's whipped free kick from the right.

After Niort's goalkeeper Artur Desmas went close to equalizing in injury time following a corner, there was just enough time for Pastore to break down the left wing and set up Cavani's 36th of a prolific season.

It was Pastore's first goal and followed his impressive performance in a 5-1 win away to Marseille on Sunday night.

PSG are chasing a third straight domestic Treble while Niort is in 12th place in the second tier and had lost three out of their previous four games. But driving rain, plus a slippery and muddy pitch, reduced the obvious gap in playing ability in a scrappy match where players regularly lost their footing.

"Niort's players were very committed," PSG right-back Thomas Meunier said. "We had a lot of trouble scoring against them."

Portuguese winger Goncalo Guedes made his first PSG appearance since joining from Benfica in January, while 19-year-old forward Jean-Kevin Augustin -- a product of the club's youth academy -- got a rare start.

Guedes, who reportedly cost €30 million, smacked the first chance of his PSG career way over the crossbar in the 30th minute.

With the conditions worsening, and the puddles getting deeper, Niort's Dylan Bronn went close in the 54th minute.

PSG coach Unai Emery had seen enough, and brought on Cavani and Pastore.

In a frantic finale, Niort's goalkeeper almost reached a loose ball in the area. From the counter-attack, PSG winger Lucas rolled the ball toward an empty net only for it to get stuck in a puddle just short of the line.

Meanwhile, first division Guingamp reached the last eight after winning 2-1 away to third-tier side Quevilly-Rouen.

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