Lille, France — Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) continue their quest for Coupe de France glory with a 4-2 victory over US Dunkerque in the semifinals on April 1, 2025. The Parisians showcased their dominance with a strong performance at the Decathlon Arena – Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
The match kicked off at 8:10 PM local time, with both teams jostling for a spot in the final. PSG, coming off a confident 7-0 quarter-final win over Stade Briochin, approached the game with high expectations against lower-tier Dunkerque, who had already caused upsets in previous rounds.
PSG established early control, with Ousmane Dembélé and Gonçalo Ramos leading their attacking threats. Despite Dunkerque’s determination, they fell behind quickly when Dembélé broke through the defense, scoring the opening goal in the 16th minute with a powerful effort from outside the box.
Dunkerque responded with vigor, capitalizing on a lapse in PSG’s defense when Vicente Sasso equalized with a header from a corner kick, bringing the score to 1-1 just before halftime.
After the break, PSG ramped up their attack. Dembélé struck again in the 58th minute, showcasing his skill and pace by scoring his second of the night. However, Dunkerque refused to back down and pushed for an equalizer, exploiting their home advantage.
In another moment of excitement, US Dunkerque’s Yacine Bammou leveled the match again in the 66th minute, sending the crowd into frenzy. Yet, it did not take long for PSG to regain control; Achraf Hakimi’s pinpoint cross found Marquinhos for a diving header, restoring PSG’s lead to 3-2.
As the match reached the dying minutes, Dembélé completed his hat trick with a stunning shot in the 83rd minute, further sealing the victory for PSG. The scoreboard read 4-2 at the final whistle, confirming PSG’s place in the final.
PSG’s head coach, Luis Enrique, praised his team’s resilience post-match, stating, “We showed great character and determination tonight. Dunkerque put up a solid fight, but we managed to stick to our game plan.”
Dunkerque’s manager, Luis Castro, acknowledged the challenge of facing a formidable opponent but remained proud of his team’s effort. “We have fought hard, and we were very close at several points. We’ll take this experience forward,” he said.
The statistics from the match reflected PSG’s overall dominance, with 75.9% possession and 31 shots in contrast to Dunkerque’s 11 attempts. Despite these figures, Dunkerque’s fighting spirit shone through as they pushed PSG to their limits during the encounter.
This match underscores the unpredictable nature of the Coupe de France, where lower division teams are always capable of surprising results. PSG now awaits their opponent for the final, confidently chasing their goal of adding another trophy to their illustrious history.
