Diego Lugano saved Carlo Ancelotti’s blushes on his official debut as Paris Saint-Germain coach with a stoppage-time goal to secure a 2-1 French Cup win at fifth-tier Locmine on Sunday.
Uruguay defender Lugano headed home from a Javier Pastore cross three minutes into stoppage-time after the Argentine playmaker’s opener had been canceled out by Abou Maiga in the second half.
“We must play better,” Ancelotti told a press conference after PSG went through to the round-of-32, where they are scheduled to travel to fourth-tier Sable sur Sarthe.
Photo: AFP
“I was upset because Pastore had the opportunity to score a second goal. Same for Nene. When you have the opportunity to score, you must score,” he said.
Ancelotti, who took over from Antoine Kombouare late last month, admitted he would need time to improve PSG’s game.
“We have to work hard to improve. I don’t know how much time it will take,” he said.
“When you’re 1-0 up, you need in that kind of game to be able to add a second,” PSG midfielder Christophe Jallet told Eurosport. “It was not a great game from us, but the most important is to qualify.”
PSG survived an early scare when Maiga hit the bar after only four minutes and they took control of the game, although they struggled to break the deadlock.
Pastore finally found the back of the net eight minutes into the second half from close range, but he missed two clear chances shortly afterwards.
Maiga converted a penalty after Fabrice Peru was fouled in the box by Mamadou Sakho, only for Lugano to stab in the winner deep in stoppage-time.
Earlier, Toulouse became the latest Ligue 1 cup casualty when they were knocked out 1-0 by third-tier GFCO Ajaccio.
Mickael Colloredo struck two minutes into the second half for the hosts as Toulouse joined Stade Malherbe Caen, Sochaux-Montbeliard, Lorient and Stade Brestois 29 on the list of top-flight teams eliminated by lower-league opposition.
Lisandro Lopez netted a first-half hat-trick to give Olympique Lyonnais a 3-1 win at neighbors Lyon-la-Duchere.
Montpellier Herault easily went past minnows Prix les Mezieres, who play in the sixth tier, with a 4-0 away win.
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