A look back at Les Parisiennes' Coupe de France run
Paris Saint-Germain have won the 4th Coupe de France Feminine in their history. Here's a look back at the highlights of the Parisians' run in the competition this season.
As tradition dictates, the Coupe de France kicks off the new calendar year, and with it the second half of the season. The Parisians kicked off their Coupe de France campaign in Brittany against D3 side CPB Bréquigny-Rennes.
The Parisians were the logical favourites and went on to record a comprehensive 4-0 victory in the last 32 of the competition, thanks to goals from Magnaba Folquet, Tabitha Chawinga twice and Amalie Vangsgaard. Having qualified for the Round of 16, the Parisians now faced a D1 clash.
Jocelyn Prêcheur's players continued their adventure against AS Saint-Etienne at the PSG Campus. It was a narrow 2-1 victory over a resilient Foréziennes side. Marie-Antoinette Katoto opened the scoring in the 10th minute, but Les Vertes levelled just before the hour mark. Just as the game drew to a close, Lieke Martens-Van Leer put her side ahead from close range, foreshadowing the future.
At first sight, the draw for the quarter-finals was a kind one, but a trip to 3rd division side Puy en Velay always proves tricky at this stage of the competition. The Parisians lived up to their status with a comprehensive 4-0 victory, Amalie Vangsgaard (brace), Ramona Bachmann and Sandy Baltimore the scorers, propelling their side into the last four.
Three Parisian clubs in the semi-finals, plus Olympique Lyonnais. It was a dream semi-final, with Paris Saint-Germain taking on Paris FC and Fleury facing Lyon. Two exciting semi-finals, with the Lyonnais beaten by Fleury in a penalty shoot-out, while the Parisians had to battle hard against their PFC counterparts.
The match lived up to all its promises. It was at the end of the suspense, during the penalty shoot-out, that the Rouge et Bleu clinched their ticket to the final, at the end of a breathless match (3-3, 3-4 on penalties), with a decisive save from Kartzyna Kierdzynek standing out.
Last but not least, the final was decided by Lieke Martens-Van Leer, after the Parisians had been playing with ten against eleven for some time. It was a hard-fought victory, based on mental strength and talent, and perhaps the first step towards a final part of the season, with the D1 Arkema play-offs in sight, which looks set to be completely crazy.
Starting with the league semi-final against PFC, which takes place at the Parc des Princes on Saturday 11 May at 9pm, it's time to make history!