PSG oust Monaco to advance to Coupe de France semifinals

Goals from David Luiz, right, and Edinson Cavani put PSG through to the semifinals.
Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

Paris Saint-Germain remain on course for a domestic treble after beating Monaco 2-0 to reach Coupe de France semifinals on Wednesday.

Former Chelsea player David Luiz gave PSG the lead in the third minute, and striker Edinson Cavani grabbed his 18th goal of the season to make it 2-0 after 52 minutes.

The teams had met in the French league on Sunday, when PSG missed a glut of chances in a 0-0 draw which only served to highlight the absence of top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic -- who missed both games against Monaco through suspension.

After Luiz headed in Ezequiel Lavezzi's free kick, PSG survived a scare in the 20th minute when Alain Traore's powerful strike came back off the crossbar.

Monaco also got a reprieve midway through the first half when Javier Pastore's header glanced off the bar.

After Pastore again went close for PSG, Cavani latched onto a fine a pass from midfielder Marco Verratti, controlled the ball well and fired a low shot past Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

Then, within the space of a minute, Pastore -- who missed good chances against Monaco on Sunday night -- and Cavani both hit the post.

Pastore's woeful finishing was evident again, when a minute after hitting the woodwork, he missed the target from six metres out and then saw another effort saved by Stekelenburg right before the end.

PSG, who are second in Ligue 1 and through to the Coupe de la Ligue final, join fellow first division side Saint-Etienne in the semis.

Saint-Etienne beat third-tier Boulogne-sur-Mer 4-3 on penalties in a shootout on Tuesday. In Thursday's quarters, Brest face Auxerre in an all-second-tier match, and rank outsider Concarneau -- who play in the amateur fourth tier -- faces defending champions Guingamp.