Michel Platini vs PSG (1982)

The final for the Coupe de France in 1982 is one of the most memorable matches in the history of French football. It was contested between the new and ambitious project from the capital PSG, and one of the strongest teams in the country – Saint-Etienne, lead by the best French player in history – Michel Platini. Despite being a really young club, being established only in 1970, the fact that PSG was a club from Paris meant that it already had a huge following and had the ambition of becoming a top team in France. The 1982 Cup final was the perfect opportunity for the parisians to win the first major trophy in their history. Doing it against Platini's team would make it even better. PSG even took the lead but Platini equalized and the game went into extra time. Platini scored another goal, and it seemed like PSG would have to wait for their first major trophy, but one minute from time the real drama of this game began. Dominique Rocheteau equalized and the fans from Paris invaded the pitch in celebration and ran around the stadium for a few minutes, one of them greeting the superstar Platini. The players and officials had to wait only for a few minutes before the fans got back on the stands and the game was renewed. Platini burst forward in an attempt to decide everything before the lottery of the penalty kicks, but ended up injuring himself. After the final whistle, the PSG fans again invaded the pitch, this time for a lot longer. They basically occupied the playing field and even surrounded the goal where the penalty kicks were going to be taken, so they could have the perfect vantage point. However the officials wanted the pitch to be cleared before they would let the players have the penalty shootout, and it took more than 30 minutes for the fans to get back to their seats. Finally, the deciding penalties could commence. The first penalty was not shown on TV as the cameras were pointing at the center of the pitch for no apparent reason. However the joy from the Saint-Etienne fans meant that Battiston had scored. The first penalty taker for PSG was Dominique Bathenay, who blasted the ball over the bar. However referee Michel Vautrot ruled that the penalty had to be retaken, because Saint Ettienne goalkeeper Jean Castaneda had stepped off his line. Bathenay scored on his second attempt and the score was equalized once again. It was Jean-Louis Zanon's turn to take a penalty for Saint-Etienne and just like Bathenay he blasted the ball high over the crossbar. Just like in Bathenay's case, the referee decided that the penalty should be retaken, and Zanon scored from his second chance. Both teams kept scoring their penalties, with Platini taking the 5th penalty for his team, despite his injury, until Christian Lopez missed. This meant that Jean-Marc Pilorget had the chance to give PSG their first ever trophy if he scored. He did, and the PSG fans were once again on the pitch this time celebrating the victory. Platini left the field in disappointment. Even though this was Platini's second consecutive lost Coupe de France final, it is one of the most memorable games in his great career, and an integral part of his incredible football legacy.

PSG - Saint-Etienne 2-2* (Toko 58', Rocheteau 120'; Platini 76', 99')
15/5/1982 Parc des Princes, Paris, France
Coupe de France final

PSG: Baratelli, Col, Pilorget, Bathenay, Lemoult, Fernandez, Dahleb, Surjak, Toko, Rocheteau, Boubacar; Coach - Georges Peyroche;

Saint-Etienne: Castaneda, Battiston, Lestage, Gardon, Lopez, Zanon, Larios, Janvion, Platini, Paganelli, Rep; Coach - Robert Herbin;