Cavani and Di Maria fire PSG into final

Cavani and Di Maria fire PSG into final

January 26, 2017
PSG players celebrate after scoring a goal during their French League Cup match against Bordeaux at the Matmut Atlantique Stadium in Bordeaux, southwestern France, Tuesday. - AFP
PSG players celebrate after scoring a goal during their French League Cup match against Bordeaux at the Matmut Atlantique Stadium in Bordeaux, southwestern France, Tuesday. - AFP


PARIS - Edinson Cavani and Angel Di Maria each scored twice as holder Paris Saint-Germain romped past Girondins de Bordeaux 4-1 Tuesday to reach the final of the French League Cup.

Di Maria opened the scoring for the holder with an unstoppable free kick on 19 minutes and added its fourth goal with a 25-meter shot into the bottom corner late on.

In between, Cavani weighed in with a first-time shot from just inside the area and a poached second to take his tally to 28 for the season.

Bordeaux battled bravely but was fortunate to get back into the game on 32 minutes when television replays showed that Diego Rolan’s equalizer should have been disallowed for an earlier offside.

PSG will play the winner of Wednesday’s other semifinal between Monaco and Nancy in Lyon on April 1.

Alaves eases in semis



Alaves became the first side to book its place in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey Tuesday as a 0-0 draw at home to second division Alcorcon was enough to seal a 2-0 aggregate win.

Ibai Gomez’s two late goals in last week’s first leg had given the first division side a commanding advantage.

However, the Basques had to rely on goalkeeper Adrian Ortola to prevent Alcorcon, who caused one of the biggest shocks in Copa del Rey history be eliminating Real Madrid in 2009, a route back into the tie through efforts from Nelson and Ivi either side of half-time.

Madrid needs a huge turnaround in the second leg of its tie Wednesday to avoid another shock exit as it trails Celta Vigo 2-1 ahead a trip to Balaidos.

Atletico Madrid and Barcelona look well set to take their place in the last four, though, as Atletico leads Eibar 3-0, whilst Barca holds a 1-0 advantage over Real Sociedad with the second leg at home to come.

Napoli in Cup semis



Napoli beat Fiorentina 1-0 to advance to the Italian Cup semifinals and extend its unbeaten streak in all competitions to 15 matches Tuesday.

Jose Callejon used a header to redirect a powerful cross from captain Marek Hamsik and the ball bent back the fingers of goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu midway through the second half.

Following his 10th goal in all competitions, Callejon performed a celebratory dance.

Napoli will next face either Juventus or AC Milan, who play Wednesday in Turin.

The Partenopei, which face Real Madrid in the Champions League knockout round, have not lost since falling to Juventus 2-1 on Oct. 29 in Serie A.

In the other half of the draw, it’s Inter Milan vs. Lazio and Roma vs. Cesena. - Agencies

January 26, 2017
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