PSG domestic double bid collapses at Evian
Paris Saint-Germain's ambitions of a domestic double collapsed on Wednesday when Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva missed the first two attempts in a penalty shootout after their French Cup quarter-final against Evian Thonon Gaillard had finished in a 1-1 draw.
The wealthy Paris club have a nine-point lead in Ligue 1 with six games remaining while Evian are only three points above the relegation zone.
APP:Ligue 1 at your fingertips with Stats Zone, and it's completely FREE
"We said after the draw that it was the best thing for us to regroup in hard times. I hope we now will build momentum and stay in the top flight," Evian coach Pascal Dupraz told French television France 3.
Evian, who have never reached the semi-finals, will take on Lorient in the next round while Ligue 1 bottom club Troyes will host Girondins Bordeaux, who qualified thanks to a 3-2 victory at second-tier Lens.
The semi-finals are scheduled for May 7 and 8.
PSG, who were eliminated on penalties in the League Cup last eight at Saint-Etienne, seemed on track when Javier Pastore fired the ball into the net after just eight minutes. to put them in front.
Goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez, though, had to make a string of to superb saves to deny long-range efforts from Mohamed Rabiu and Saber Khlifa. He could not prevent the latter from levelling the score four minutes before the break following a quick counter-attack.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Matters got worse for PSG and Ibrahimovic hit the woodwork in the 57th minute while Thiago Motta was shown a straight red card with three minutes to go for a kick on Cedric Barbosa's knee.
Earlier, a labouring Bordeaux team were rescued by a late Cheikh Diabate double.
Lens took the lead in the 11th minute when the ball hit the post then bounced on keeper Cedric Carrasso's back to enter the goal.
Bordeaux levelled just before the hour mark with a Gregory Sertic free-kick and Diabate scored two in five minutes to seal the victory with five minutes remaining.
‘Arteta, Alonso, Emery, me… none of us were physical players – we needed the understanding of the game. That probably helped us move into management’: Premier League boss reveals reasons for natural career progression
‘England have the players to win the World Cup – it’ll be tough for Thomas Tuchel to do a bad job, with the squad he has at his disposal’ Former Three Lions winger backs new boss after gentle qualifying draw