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Star-struck minnows pay big penalty as PSG cruise in French Cup

Paris: Paris Saint-Germain rested superstars Neymar and Kylian Mbappe before defeating sixth-tier Linas-Montlhery 6-0 in the French Cup on Sunday as the amateur side, and self-confessed fans of their monied rivals, were left to rue a missed penalty when trailing just 1-0.

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The part-timers, whose budget is 2,000-times smaller than the Qatari-backed Parisian giants, fell behind to a goal on the half-hour by teenager Adil Aouchiche.

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However, they were then awarded a penalty after Colin Dagba brought down Issa Cisse.

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Up stepped Idrissa Kanoute but his tame spot kick was well-saved by Sergio Rico in the PSG goal.

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Less than a minute later, Uruguayan star Edinson Cavani, named captain for the night, tucked away PSG’s second and the game was up.

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Cavani, starting for the first time in two months, added his second just on the hour mark before Pablo Sarabia (63rd and 70th minutes) and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (87th) completed the rout.

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“We played seriously and with humility,” said PSG coach Thomas Tuchel. “We deserved to win, it was a good match for the team and the club and a good start to 2020.”

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Tuchel was also full of praise for Cavani who has been linked with a winter transfer window move to Atletico Madrid in Spain.

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“’Edi’ is there to score, that’s what we ask him to do. This will give him confidence, that’s the best thing.”

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Linas-Montlhery, where Tottenham’s Tanguy Ndombele played in his teens, take their name from neighbouring towns in the southern outskirts of Paris.

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But their home ground was judged to be too small for Sunday’s game which was shifted instead to a 15,000-capacity arena at Bondoufle to the south of the capital.

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They are such big fans of PSG that coach Stephane Cabrelli is a season-ticket holder who has been watching their games for the best part of 50 years.

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“It was impressive to play against a team of such stars,” admitted Linas-Montlhery skipper Johan Roca who spent four years in the PSG youth system from 2000 to 2004.

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“We looked them in the eye but felt the gap between us. It was hard physically, tactically, technically.

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“Well done to PSG, they respected us and we had a lot of fun.”

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Andre Villas-Boas’ Marseille needed penalties to win away to fourth-tier Trelissac in their last 64 tie.

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Lassana Diakhaby and Ange Gnaleko missed the crucial spot kicks for the minnows as the 10-time former winners avoided a second straight cup exit to a side from National 2.

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The Morning and Evening Brief###

The Morning and Evening Brief

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