Di Maria joy as PSG land League Cup trophy again

Paris Saint-Germain’s Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani, Paris Saint-Germain’s Italian goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian defender Thiago Silva, Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian midfielder Lucas, Paris Saint-Germain’s French defender Layvin Kurzawa, Paris Saint-Germain’s Argentinian forward Angel Di Maria and Paris Saint-Germain’s Ivorian defender Serge Aurier celebrate with the trophy after winning the French League Cup final football match against Lille on April 23, 2016 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. AFP 

AFP: Angel Di Maria bagged the winner as Paris St Germain beat Lille 2-1 to capture the French League Cup trophy for the third year in succession, and for a record sixth time, on Saturday.

The Argentina winger latched on to a poor clearance by Adama Soumaoro in the final at the Stade de France and rounded goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to score despite Marko Basa’s lunging effort to try and cut out his 74th-minute shot.

PSG, who have already retained the Ligue 1 title, were reduced to 10 men three minutes earlier when midfielder Adrien Rabiot received a second yellow card for a foul on Lille playmaker Soufiane Boufal.

Midfielder Javier Pastore had put PSG ahead with a disputed goal late in the first half, volleying home a punched clearance from Enyeama with Layvin Kursawa in an apparent offside position in the goalkeeper’s line of vision.

Lille, playing in their first final, equalised five minutes into the second period when left back Djibril Sidibe hit a free kick from 22 metres through the wall and past a static Salvatore Sirigu in goal.

Laurent Blanc’s men now have three trophies this term with a French Cup final against Marseille to come, as they look to ease the pain of their Champions League quarter-final defeat to Manchester City.

“My players, even at 10 against 11, wanted to win that game,” coach Blanc told television channel France 2, after his team won the final for the third year in a row.

“We have a season to finish in the league and the French Cup on 21 May, when we can end on a good note. Now we have already won the League Cup, I hope my players will be focused and motivated for the French Cup.”

PSG thrashed Bastia 4-0 12 months ago to seal a record fifth League Cup title, while Lille were playing in the final of the competition for the first time.

“It’s very hard, we are very disappointed,” said Lille winger Boufal. “We must congratulate Paris, even with ten, they proved they are a great team. We were beaten by the stronger side.”