Boudebouz nets winner as St-Etienne reaches French Cup final

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Saint-Etienne's Ryad Boudebouz, front, challenge the ball. (Michel Spingler/AP)

PARIS — Substitute Ryad Boudebouz scored the winner deep into injury time as Saint-Etienne stunned title holder Rennes 2-1 to reach the French Cup final on Thursday.

Nearing the end of four minutes of injury time, the ball reached Boudebouz on the edge of the penalty area and he confidently stroked it into the bottom right corner.

Saint-Etienne has won the trophy six times but not since 1977. Les Verts will now face 12-time champion Paris Saint-Germain in the final on April 25.

Rennes upset PSG in the final last year after coming from 2-0 down. The Brittany side looked in control when M’Baye Niang scored a penalty in the 33rd.

But defender Timothee Kolodziejczak equalized for the home side just before the break.

In Wednesday’s semifinal, Kylian Mbappe scored a hat trick as PSG won 5-1 at Lyon to reach its sixth straight final.

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