Rennes have put a stop to Paris Saint-Germain's Coupe de France dominance, and in doing so, ended their own 48-year wait for victory in the country's marquee cup competition.
Les Rouges et Noirs overturned a two-goal first-half deficit and stormed back to a famous 6-5 victory on penalties Saturday night at the Stade de France, snapping the capital city club's four-year monopoly in the tournament.
Extra-time substitute Christopher Nkunku skied PSG's sixth penalty after Rennes scored all six of their attempts from the spot to cement the Bretons' first Coupe de France title since 1971.
Considering the recent history of the two sides, everything went to plan in the first half in the French capital. Dani Alves bagged an obscene goal, and Neymar scored in his return to the starting XI.
PSG appeared to be on easy street with a 2-0 advantage after 21 minutes. Both goals were characteristically equal measure flair and technique, with Alves firing home a vicious volley off a Neymar corner before his international mate completed a slick team move with a calm chip.
La célébration des Rennais avec leurs supporters 🙌🙌 #SRFCPSG pic.twitter.com/DE7jFevR6X
— Coupe de France (@coupedefrance) April 27, 2019
Kimpembe's own goal six minutes before the break gave Rennes hope, and the mid-table side carried the momentum into the second half.
Rennes nearly leveled in the 58th minute when Benjamin Bourigeaud's thumping strike on the edge of the penalty area was palmed out of play by PSG 'keeper Alphonse Areola. Julien Stephan's charges were rewarded for their efforts thereafter, with central defender Mexer leaping to head home Clement Grenier's corner kick at the near post beyond a lunging Areola in the 66th minute.
Extra-time was needed with the scoreline locked at two after 90 minutes.
The two sides exchanged excellent opportunities on either side of the added-time break. Kylian Mbappe's low strike across the face of goal on the counterattack rang the post before skidding away from danger, and Hatem Ben Arfa narrowly rattled the bar with a booming laser from distance.
Tomas Koubek was particularly good in net for Rennes, making a slew of saves including stops in extra-time on Mbappe and substitute Edinson Cavani.
Mbappe was sent off moments before penalties for a horror tackle on Rennes' Damien Da Silva that caught the veteran defender on the inside of his right knee.
For Rennes, a fruitless relationship with the Coupe de France is no more. Les Rouges et Noirs suffered finals defeats to fellow Bretons Guingamp in the 2009 and 2014 showpieces.
