PARIS: Kylian Mbappe grabbed two goals and a pair of assists as Paris St-Germain brushed past third-tier Orleans 4-1 on Saturday to reach the last 16 of the French Cup.
Mbappe opened the scoring with a neat low finish before doubling his tally in the second half from the penalty spot following a handball in the area.
The France captain, with 28 goals in 26 appearances for PSG this season, set up his team’s third by clipping a cross for Goncalo Ramos to head home.
Orleans got a consolation through captain Nicolas Saint-Ruf, with 17-year-old Senny Mayulu getting his first PSG goal after being played in by Mbappe.
Earlier, Wissam Ben Yedder scored a hat-trick as Monaco defeated second-tier Rodez 3-1 while last season’s runners-up Nantes lost to lower-league opponents.
Ben Yedder struck his first from the penalty spot and then netted twice more in the second half after Stone Mambo had equalised for Ligue 2 side Rodez.
Malik Tchokounte’s header earned second-division Laval a 1-0 win at Nantes, who won the competition in 2022 but were thrashed in the final by Toulouse last year.
Elsewhere, Nice held off Bordeaux to advance 3-2 with Morgan Sanson notching a brace for the team second in the top flight.
Stade Brestois, flying high in third place in Ligue 1, avoided an upset away to fourth-tier Trelissac, coming from behind to win 2-1 with late goals from Kenny Lala and Martin Satriano.
Le Puy, who also play in the fourth division, dumped out a team two levels above them, defeating Dunkerque 2-1. Valenciennes beat Paris FC by the same scoreline.
Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2024
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