PSG squeeze through but Lyon dumped out in French Cup shock

BOURGION-JALLIEU, France: Two late goals from Bradley Barcola and Goncalo Ramos spared the blushes of defending champion Paris Saint-Germain who booked their place in the last 16 of the French Cup with a nerve-jangling 4-2 win at fifth-tier Espaly on Wednesday.

There was no such reprieve for Lyon, however, who were sent crashing out when they were beaten 4-2 on penalties by another fifth-tier team Bourgoin-Jallieu. With Espaly moving the game to the Stade Marcel-Michelin in Clermont-Ferrand, home of the far more famous rugby team, PSG struggled from the start, conceding a goal in the third minute to Kevis Gjeci.

The Parisians levelled through Warren Zaire-Emery eight minutes before half time before Desire Doue put the champions in front in the 67th minute. That should have been it but Maxence Fournel equalised for the part-timers four minutes later, raising the prospect of a penalty shootout lottery.

Barcola, however, broke Espaly hearts, when he put PSG ahead in the 88th minute with Ramos sealing their passage four minutes later from the penalty spot. PSG coach Luis Enrique congratulated his opposite number Lionel Vaillant and his team but criticised the quality of the pitch.

“I´m not looking for excuses but we played on a rugby pitch, with the ball bouncing all over the place,” he said. “We need to be able to play everywhere and we´re delighted that this competition exists, but for everyone´s sake, the conditions need to be better.”