Parisians beat AS Saint-Etienne to qualify

Match reports

Paris Saint-Germain's Women's team beat AS Saint-Étienne 2-1 on Saturday 27 January at Campus PSG in the last 16 of the Coupe de France. Here's a look back at Paris Saint-Germain's victory.

Two weeks after a victorious start and qualification against CPB Bréquigny Rennes at the Stade Roger Salengro (0-4), and three days after a prestigious victory over Ajax at the Parc des Princes on Matchday 5 of the UEFA Women's Champions League group stage (3-1), the Parisians returned to the Coupe de France this Saturday with the aim of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the competition. Their opponents were AS Saint-Étienne, currently seventh in the D1 Arkema, with 13 points from 12 games (1 game in hand).

For this game, Jocelyn Prêcheur opted for a central defensive pairing of Elisa De Almeida and Thiniba Samoura in front of Constance Picaud in goal. Down the flanks, Tara Elimbi Gilbert played on the left, while Jade Le Guilly took her place on the right. In midfield, Korbin Albert was the deepest of the three, with captain Grace Geyoro and Laurina Fazer also starting. Up front, Marie-Antoinette Katoto played centre-forward, with Amalie Vangsgaard on the right wing and Lieke Martens on the left.

The Parisians got off to a flying start, imposing their game on St Etienne in the visitor's half of the pitch. The Parisians even opened the scoring with their first real chance, Lieke Martens passing through the middle to an unmarked Marie-Antoinette Katoto, who coolly dribbled past the opposition keeper before finishing with her left foot into the empty net (1-0, 10'). After scoring her 12th goal in her last 12 appearances, Les Rouge et Bleu's serial goalscorer found the net for the eighth match in a row.

A quarter of an hour later, Paris came close to doubling their lead, this time through Amalie Vangsgaard. From a Grace Geyoro free-kick, the Danish striker won her aerial duel but saw her header go wide (25'). The Forez side were powerless to get out of their own half and were forced to accept the pace set by Korbin Albert and her team-mates. The Parisians were winning the battles, and Katoto came close to a brace after once again finding herself free (40'). Paris were one up on their Saint-Etienne counterparts at the interval.

But from the start of the second half, Les Vertes showed renewed intent and managed to level the scores through their new signing Amandine Pierre-Louis, who scored her fourth goal this month (1-1, 50'). The capital club responded through their substitutes, but Tabitha Chawinga's goal after a superb ball from Sandy Baltimore was eventually disallowed for offside (64'). Despite their clear dominance, Jocelyn Prêcheur's players came up against a compact, well-organised Saint-Etienne block. ASSE tried to make the most of the space they were left with some well-executed counter-attacks, but Constance Picaud was on hand to turn away Morgane Belkhiter's powerful shot (79').

As the game entered its final moments and looked set for a penalty shoot-out, the Rouge et Bleu intensified their efforts in search of a second goal. After receiving a good cross from the left, Sandy Baltimore produced a magnificent scissor-kick from the penalty spot that forced Maryne Gignoux to intervene. The St Etienne goalkeeper kept out the Parisians' first attempt, but Lieke Martens pounced to fire the ball into the back of the net from close range (2-1, 88'). Thanks to this late goal, the Parisians beat AS Saint-Etienne 2-1.

The win means the Parisians are through to the next round, and their quarter-final opponents will be announced on Monday 29 January. The Parisians' next objective is to qualify for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women's Champions League. To do so, the Rouge et Bleu will have to avoid defeat against FC Bayern Munich on Tuesday 30 January at 9pm at the FC Bayern Campus, or AFC Ajax fail to win against AS Roma. Let's hope for an outcome similar to this afternoon's!