French star Kylian Mbappe became the first player in Paris Saint-Germain’s history to score five goals in a single game, including a 12-minute hattrick in the first half of the game. The Ligue 1 giants produced a ruthless performance to crush Pays de Cassel and registered a dominant 7-0 win at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Monday night. PSG took on the amateur side in the last 32 of the Coupe de France with the French striker Mbappe having been named as captain for the first time since he arrived at the Parc des Princes.
The 24-year-old footballer delivered an eye-catching performance and made a statement that he is a top-class player in the world. With a remarkable win over Cassel, PSG stormed into the last 16 of the French cup and will be up against bitter rivals Marseille on February 8. PSG is eying to win France’s premier cup competition for the first time since 2021 this year.
PSG coach Christophe Galtier picked a strong side, with World Cup top scorer Mbappe and Brazilian star Neymar in the lineup. But he rested World Cup winner Lionel Messi, Pays de Cassel was able to hold star-studded PSG for only 28 minutes and from thereon the PSG players took on the game to a higher level and displayed a sensational show. Mbappe opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark when he fired in low to the bottom right corner from inside the box.
A few minutes later, Neymar doubled PSG’s lead, smashing high into the net from inside the six-yard box. Mbappe laid on a brilliant assist for the goal. The PSG skipper added his second in the 34th minute and this time he fired past Cassel goalkeeper Romain Samson after being played in by Danilo Pereira. The Frenchman completed his hat-trick by firing into the bottom right corner, five minutes before the end of the first half.
PSG continued to play its attacking game right from the start of the second half and Mbappe found the net for his fourth goal in the 56th minute, with Neymar setting him up to score from a close range. Neymar secured his second assist of the night eight minutes later, setting up Carlos Soler to fire in. Fifteen minutes later, the midfielder turned provider himself, crossing in for Mbappe to score with a left-footed shot.
Mbappe has scored 25 goals in 24 games this season and he took his tally to 196 overall for PSG, just four short of Edinson Cavani’s club record.
