Last season’s finalists Paris Saint-Germain eased their way into the last-16 of the French Cup with a 3-0 win away to Ajaccio, thanks to a Mateja Kezman double and a goal from Sammy Traoré.

On a heavy, but playable pitch, Paul Le Guen was without the services of Claude Makelele and Jérôme Rothen for the trip to Corsica. And in front of a passionate home crowd, it was Ajaccio that were the first onto the front foot, but Kahlaoui, missed out on his one-on-one with Mickaël Landreau (9’). The Parisians reacted immediately, only for Guillaume Hoarau (12’) and Sylvain Armand (17’) to fire just wide.

Paul Le Guen’s men kept their minds on the job and were quickly rewarded for their efforts. From a Marcos Céarà long throw, Guillaume Hoarau and Clément Chantôme flicked the ball on. It made its way through to the feet of Mateja Kezman, who, alone six metres from goal, opened the scoring with a right-footed volley (0-1; 25). Behind on the scoreboard, the Corsicans were pushed on by their public but weren’t able to equalise when Kahlaoui’s shot was saved by Mickaël Landreau (32’).

After the half-time break, the home side again poured on the pressure, looking draw level with their guests. Yet Guillaume Hoarau went close to doubling the visitors’ advantage after just 30 seconds of the second-half (46’). The Ajaccio attacks multiplied, without ever being able to unduly concern Mickaël Landreau. And it was just as the home side looked most likely to score that PSG added a second goal. Guillaume Hoarau found Ludovic Giuly on the right. The PSG winger then perfectly served Mateja Kezman who guided, left-footed, the ball into the back of the net (0-2; 60’).

The home side barely had the time to digest that set-back when two became three. Second-half substitute Sammy Traoré deviated Stéphane Sessegnon’s free-kick (0-3; 67’). The Parisians then controlled the remaining minutes to see their way through to the next round of the French Cup where they will now meet Rodez in the last-16...