Zlatan Ibrahimovic hat trick propels PSG past St. Etienne in Coupe de France
PARIS -- Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a hat trick as Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Saint-Etienne 4-1 to reach the French Cup final on Wednesday.
Ibrahimovic took his PSG career tally to 102 goals since joining three years ago, and Argentina winger Ezequiel Lavezzi added the other goal as the capital side advanced to meet Auxerre in the final.
PSG took the lead in the 21st minute from the penalty spot after right back Francois Clerc brought down Lavezzi and Ibrahimovic sent goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier the wrong way.
Saint-Etienne winger Romain Hamouma equalized four minutes later, heading in fellow winger Yohan Mollo's left-wing cross.
But Saint-Etienne missed the chance to take the lead shortly after when former PSG striker Mevlut Erding shot straight at goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez - with Hamouma left unmarked and screaming for the ball.
PSG regained the lead in the 60th when Lavezzi headed in Javier Pastore's superb cross from the right.
Ibrahimovic scored his second in the 81st and struck again in injury time.
''It's tough but we were vulnerable and we missed too many easy chances,'' Saint-Etienne captain Loic Perrin said. ''It's not normal to lose 4-1. We know they're a good team but we should do better than that.''
League leader PSG, which is one point ahead of Lyon in the title race, remains on course for a unique quadruple, and plays Bastia in the League Cup on Sunday before facing Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions league quarterfinals four days later.
