Paris Saint-Germain beat Saint-Etienne in French League Cup
PARIS -- Winger Angel Di Maria came off the bench to set up a late winner for striker Edinson Cavani as defending champion Paris Saint-Germain beat Saint-Etienne 1-0 to reach the League Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Apart from hitting the crossbar with a scissor-kick in the first half, PSG top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a quiet game and was replaced by Di Maria, who went close with a free-kick in the 77th minute.
With four minutes remaining, Di Maria delivered a brilliant dipping pass over the defense and Cavani volleyed expertly past Jessy Moulin despite being slightly off balance.
''Saint-Etienne only came to defend, but I have to say they defended very, very well,'' PSG coach Laurent Blanc said. ''I told my players at halftime that they had to do better.''
But despite fielding a strong side, PSG struggled to break down a Saint-Etienne side featuring four teenagers and a reserve goalkeeper.
PSG hosts Lyon next month.
Lyon needed a late goal from forward Claudio Beauvue in a 2-1 home win against second-division Tours, giving beleaguered coach Hubert Fournier a much-needed win.
In the last match at Stade Gerland before Lyon moves to a new stadium next month, Beauvue struck a penalty in the 38th, but midfielder Ibrahima Tandia levelled 20 minutes from time.
Beauvue grabbed the winner in the 85th from near the penalty spot to prompt relief on Lyon's bench.
Also, former Newcastle winger Remy Cabella was on target as Marseille won 3-2 way to second-division Bourg-en-Bresse, while strikers Diego Roland and Henri Saivet scored as Bordeaux beat Monaco 3-0.
In the other quarters, it is: Toulouse vs. Marseille; Bordeaux vs. Lorient, and Guingamp vs. Lille.
