Paris Saint-Germain are into the Coupe de France semi-finals after seeing off AS Monaco 2-0 at Parc des Princes on Wednesday. After a first half that was low on quality but high in aggression, the hosts stepped it up and should have scored more than the two goals they managed on the night.David Luizs early header and Edinson Cavanis well-taken second-half finish were enough to secure a seventh French Cup semi-final appearance in the past 15 years.More importantly for PSG coach Laurent Blanc, his players avoided extra time and penalties as well as ensuring that the defending French champions remain in the hunt for four potential titles this season. The 49-year-old was also pleased with his team's clinical edge in front of goal when he spoke with PSG.fr after the match.We managed to take two of our chances, which we failed to do last Sunday in Monaco. We played well in both games, even if I think we were even better tonight. We are playing good football, entertaining football, we are causing our opponents problems. I am very happy with my players, all of the players, because of we are still competing in every competition, it means the whole squad is performing. Bravo to the players.Les Parisiens are now just one game away from reaching Stade de France for a second time this season, having already booked their place against SC Bastia in the Coupe de la Ligue final next month.Blanc was rewarded for naming a relatively unchanged starting XI; only bringing in reserve goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez for Salvatore Sirigu, Lucas Digne for Maxwell and Adrien Rabiot for Gregory van der Wiel.Le Presidents men asserted their dominance over Monaco and immediately took the lead through Luiz. The Brazilian, restored to the heart of the defence in order to accommodate Rabiot, needed two attempts to get the ball past Maarten Stekelenburg from an Ezequiel Lavezzi corner.PSGs frizzy-haired No. 32 enjoyed a solid game alongside captain and Selecao teammate Thiago Silva, with the latter enjoying an accomplished performance that continues his excellent 2015 form.After that early goal, the first half became a yellow card fest, with no fewer than five bookings being dished out by referee Clement Turpin before half-time. Monaco saw Alain Traores stunning left-footed free-kick crash back off the crossbar, but this was as close as Leonardo Jardims jaded team came to finding the back of Douchezs net.Instead, the hosts came out full of vim and vigour in the second half and went on to produce an excellent 45 minutes of football.Like they did at Stade Louis II last Sunday in the league, PSG created chances almost at will. The outstandingJavier Pastore and the tenacious Marco Verratti were key to those opportunities being created.It was the Italian who slid Cavani through on goal with a sublime pass, which El Matador latched onto, steered away from Stekelenburg and fired in off the post in clinical fashion. Prior to that, it had been a disappointing performance from the Uruguayan, with his build-up play questionable at best.Cavani will be buoyed by that goal ahead of the UEFA Champions League last-16 return leg next week, considering that he will likely be rested against RC Lens this weekend as Zlatan Ibrahimovic returns from suspension.PSG were not done with that second goal, though, and went in search of a third. Pastore and Cavani both saw shots come crashing back off the woodwork, while Lavezzi also went close. El Flaco also somehow managed to miss a practically open goal with one of the easiest of chances, the only blemish on an otherwise superlative performance from the Argentine.Overall, Les Parisiens were good value for their win. Blancs men showed equal creativity combined with better finishing in front of goal than they did last weekend, while Silva was an absolute rock at the back and was aided by good full-back performances from Lucas Digne and Marquinhos.The midfield three, particularly Blaise Matuidi, dominated their Monegasque opponents and that allowed the hosts to create chances at will in the second 45.PSG beat Monaco for the first time in seven attempts and all that now stands between them and a second domestic cup final this season are the semis. Regardless of what happens in the Champions League next week, an unprecedented French domestic treble is still on the cards.Read more World Football news on BleacherReport.com
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