PSG's Dominance in the Coupe de France Final: A Detailed Look
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) clinched a crucial victory against Olympique Lyonnais (OL) in the final of the Coupe de France, showcasing their dominance from the very first half. The match, held at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Lille, opened with a decisive header by Ousmane Dembélé, who converted a well-placed cross from Nuno Mendes in the 22nd minute. This goal underlined Dembélé’s penchant for delivering in critical moments, even though he's not widely known for his headers.
PSG maintained their pressure and extended their lead ten minutes later. This time, the assist came from Dembélé, who, now operating from the right, sent a cross towards Fabian Ruiz. After an initial attempt was blocked, Ruiz managed to send the ball past Lyon’s stand-in goalkeeper, Lucas Perri, doubling PSG's advantage in the 34th minute. Perri's difficulties in reading the plays from the flanks were evident and costly for OL.
OL's Response and Dembélé’s Rare Header
Despite being dominated for an hour, OL’s resolve showed through when their Irish defender Jake O’Brien scored a powerful header in the 55th minute. This goal, marking O’Brien’s sixth of the season, rekindled Lyon’s hope, though it ultimately wasn't enough to overturn PSG's lead.
Ousmane Dembélé’s goal was particularly noteworthy as it was only his third career goal scored with a header. Known for his tenure with clubs like FC Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund, Dembélé usually scores through more conventional means. His goal stats this season include notable performances against Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals and a brace against Lorient in the league, making him a crucial asset for PSG.
- The live commentary and minute-by-minute updates of the match were available on leparisien.fr, allowing fans to stay engaged with the game as it unfolded.
- Lyon’s temporary goalkeeper Lucas Perri struggled to fill in adequately after replacing Anthony Lopes, a gap that PSG exploited efficiently through their wing play.
