Monaco survive early scare to set up PSG final in the French Cup

Rumilly Vallieres 1-5 Monaco: Cesc Fabregas on target as top flight side survive early scare after falling behind to fourth-tier outfit… and now they face a French Cup final with Mauricio Pochettino’s Paris Saint-Germain

  • Monaco fell a goal down in their French Cup semi-final at Rumilly Vallieres
  • But they battled back well to cruise into a final where they will face PSG
  • Cesc Fabregas was on target against Monaco’s fourth-tier opponents
  • Aurelien Tchouameni, Wissam Ben Yedder and Aleksandr Golovin also on target 

Monaco fell behind but quickly recovered to rout fourth-tier Rumilly Vallieres 5-1 on Thursday and set up a French Cup final against title holders Paris Saint-Germain.

PSG have reached seven straight finals and aim for a record-extending 14th trophy next Wednesday at the Stade de France.

Monaco will bid for a sixth cup victory, having last won in 1991 and losing its previous final to PSG in 2010.

Monaco’s Cesc Fabreguas (second right) celebrates with team-mates after scoring

Monaco’s French forward Wissam Ben Yedder (centre) nets past the Rumilly keeper

Ben Yedder celebrates as Monaco overcame a slow start to cruise into the French Cup final

Monaco are third in the French league and pushing for a Champions League spot, yet fell behind in the 20th minute after ex-pro Alexi Peuget netted following a poor clearance from defender Djibril Sidibe.

Monaco equalised seven minutes later when home midfielder Arthur Bozon headed a cross into his own net, and led five minutes later as midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni headed in from a corner delivered by Cesc Fabregas.

Kevin Volland missed an open goal for Monaco from close range shortly before the break. But strike partner Wissam Ben Yedder put the game beyond doubt with a flick over the goalie in the 55th minute for his 21st goal of the season.

They had fallen behind when Alexi Peuget (bottom) gave the fourth-tier side a shock lead

Aurelien Tchouameni of Monaco (right) is challenged by Ferhat Yuce of Rumilly Vallieres

Former World Cup winner Fabregas floated in a deft free kick before Russia midfielder Aleksandr Golovin added the fifth as Monaco coasted.

In Wednesday’s tense semi-final, PSG led twice through goals by Kylian Mbappe but needed penalty kicks to beat Montpellier.

PSG are second in the French league and two points ahead of Monaco with two games remaining, but lost home and away to the south coast side this season.




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