Hope remains but it brings with it a real taste of frustration. Neither the players of Paris FC nor those of Paris Saint-Germain managed to win in the first leg of the Women’s Champions League play-offs on Tuesday October 10, after having led the score, respectively against Wolfsburg ( 3-3) and Manchester United (1-1).
In a completely crazy start to the match, Paris FC almost destroyed the confidence acquired during the first two qualifying rounds where they had crushed the Ukrainians of Kryvbas (4-0) then achieved the feat of eliminating the half -finalist of the last Champions League, Arsenal (3-3, 4 tab to 2). From the 4th minute, Parisian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie feverishly put the ball back into the feet of Louves striker Vivien Endemann. The 22-year-old just has to slide the ball into the empty goal with a confident flat foot to lead 1-0 (4th).
In the process, a huge scare for the PFC which came close to being corrected: German striker Alexandra Popp struck low from the penalty area, but her shot bounced off the post after a nice deflection from Nnadozie who caught herself (7th) .
The Parisiennes sound the revolt of an imminent response on a counter-edge. Winger Julie Dufour overflows in her left lane and center at ground level towards captain Gaëtane Thiney who adjusts a flat foot at close range (1-1, 8th).
“We are a playful team”
The atmosphere rises in the Charléty stadium and the 3,257 supporters, out of 20,000 possible seats, raise their arms in the 15th minute after a goal from Mathilde Bourdieu following a magnificent deep pass from central defender Ould Hocine (2-1) . But the double European champions are back at 2-2 thanks to their essential Alexandra Popp, who takes a cross from Joelle Wedemeyer with an angry header (30th).
After a lull, Paris FC scorer Julie Dufour slammed a beautiful volley at the edge of the area, the capital club took control in a first half full of goals (3-2, 44th).
The Parisiennes then held the feat for more than half an hour but that was without counting on the equalizer from Popp, author of a double to bring his team to 3-3 (73rd). At a lively end to the match, Paris FC did not find the fault and could even have lost to a goal brought by a dazzling counter, ultimately refused for offside (81st).
The capital’s players will now travel to Wolfsburg on October 18 to try to secure their first participation in the group stage of the Women’s Champions League.
“We hope that we will find the solution [for the return match], launched the experienced Parisian captain Gaëtane Thiney. We are a playful team, we said to ourselves after the opening score that we had to let go. In the expression of our game, we can be proud of what we have done.”
Beware of disillusionment for PSG
For their part, the players of Paris SG, quarter-finalists of the last edition, were shaken in the north of England by a Manchester United team new to the competition, which does not include a big star if it’s Mary Earps, the goalkeeper of the English selection finalist of the last World Cup.
Dominant in the first period, PSG had their rank respected after the break, thanks to Malawian attacker Tabitha Chawinga (1-0, 53rd), well served over the defense by Sandy Baltimore. But the team led by Jocelyn Prêcheur then lost control of the game, suffering repeated attacks from the English women pumped up in front of their audience.
The coach of the Mancuniennes, Marc Skinner, indeed opted for ambitious choices in the second half, with the entry in particular of Geyse, European champion last season with FC Barcelona. It was French international Melvine Malard (23), on loan from national rival Olympique Lyonnais, who dampened PSG’s hopes of qualification by equalizing, just four minutes after coming on. Malard, more lively and determined than the Parisian defense imposed itself to head in following a corner (1-1, 70th).
The two teams will play the return leg on October 18 at the Parc des Princes. Not playing in the Champions League would be a huge disillusionment for the Parisian captain, Grace Geyoro, and her teammates, regular players in the great European club cup.
