Draxler sparks extra time PSG win over minnows

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain required extra time to overcome third-tier Villefranche 3-0 in the last 16 of the French Cup on Wednesday.

Holders and record 12-time champions PSG were held in check at Lyon’s Groupama Stadium until Julian Draxler bundled in a cross from substitute Edinson Cavani on 102 minutes.

Moussa Diaby and Cavani sealed victory late on after both were set up for simple tap-ins by Kylian Mbappe, who came on for Angel Di Maria with an hour gone.

PSG will host Dijon in the quarter-finals as they bid to win the competition for a fifth time in a row.

Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes made his first start for PSG after his arrival from Zenit Saint Petersburg for a reported €47 million (RM217 million).

PSG will be without Brazilian forward Neymar for both legs of the last-16 clash against United after the world’s most expensive player suffered an injury to his right foot last month.

Elsewhere, Jordan Siebatcheu scored twice, including a 91stminute winner, for Rennes as they came from behind to defeat 10-man Lille, who saw Adama Soumaoro sent off after just 19 minutes.

Fourth-division Vitre reached the last eight of the French Cup for the first time in club history as a stoppage-time penalty completed a remarkable 3-2 victory, having trailed third-tier LyonDuchere by two goals.

Lyon, who snapped PSG’s unbeaten league run at the weekend, visit Guingamp in the final of the last-16 games yesterday.