Boudebouz's last-gasp goal fires St-Etienne into French Cup final

PARIS - Algerian international Ryad Boudebouz scored in the stoppage time to send Saint-Etienne into the French Cup final with a dramatic comeback 2-1 win over defending champions Rennes at home on Thursday.

Saint-Etienne will take on record 12-time winner Paris Saint-Germain in the final at the Stade de France on April 25. PSG thrashed Lyon 5-1 on Wednesday to book a spot in the final for six consecutive years.

Boudebouz went onto the pitch to replace Yann M'Vila with only seven minutes to the regular time. But it turned out to be a wise decision for St-Etienne's head coach Claude Puel as the 30-year-old attacking fielder slotted home in the 94th minute to help his side return to the French Cup showdown for the first time since 1982.

St-Etienne won the last of their six French Cup titles in 1977.

Mbaye Niang converted a 33rd-minute penalty to put the visitors 1-0 ahead. Timothee Kolodziejczak levelled the score for St-Etienne before the half-time as he headed in a Lois Diony cross in the 43rd minute.

The victory was also a relief to Puel and his side, who have been suffering a struggling French Ligue 1 campaign this season, sitting on the 16th place of 20 teams in the table, only two points above the relegation zone.