Cavani scores as PSG lift France’s League Cup

Uruguayan striker recovers from injury and lack of playing form to lead French Ligue 1 champions to 2-1 victory over Lyon.

Paris Saint-Germain won France’s League Cup on Saturday, beating Lyon 2-1 in the final at the Stade de France to secure the first leg of a likely domestic double.

Edinson Cavani was the match-winner for Laurent Blanc’s side, scoring a first-half brace, one of which came from the penalty spot, and while Alexandre Lacazette pulled a goal back in the second half, PSG proved just too strong for a Lyon side who had beaten them in Ligue 1 just six days earlier.

It is the second trophy won by the club from the French capital since their takeover by Qatar Sports Investments in 2011 and subsequent transformation into one of the wealthiest clubs in Europe, following their title triumph last season.

And their League Cup victory – their fourth in the 20-year history of the competition – could be followed by another French Ligue 1 crown as early as next Wednesday, although they must hope nearest rivals Monaco lose on Sunday for that to happen.

PSG had been in the doldrums following their Uefa Champions League quarter-final exit to Chelsea at the start of the month and their 1-0 loss in Lyon last weekend had heaped pressure on Blanc, even if it did little real damage to their championship aspirations.

Two consecutive games without scoring a goal since the loss of 40-goal leading scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic to injury had also increased the pressure on misfiring record signing Cavani, but the Uruguayan produced a superb first-half display in which he scored twice and could have had two more goals.

The opener arrived with exactly three minutes played, Maxwell playing a one-two with Ezequiel Lavezzi and dinking the ball over advancing Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes for Cavani to poke home from close range.

Lyon, back at the Stade de France for the first time since winning the French Cup two years ago, might have equalised moments later, but Bafetimbi Gomis hit the side-netting after good work from his strike partner Lacazette.

Gomis then headed an Arnold Mvuemba corner straight at Nicolas Douchez, who was preferred in goal to regular PSG first-choice ‘keeper Salvatore Sirigu, just as he had been in the earlier rounds of the competition.

However, Paris were on top and Cavani was unlucky not to score with a superb first-time volley from 25 yards that was saved by Lopes flying to his right.

Follow our sports coverage on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE