A big win and qualification for the play-offs before returning to Europe!

After qualifying for the Coupe de France final, the Parisians returned to league action on Saturday. On the menu for this 17th episode of D1 action was AS Saint-Étienne, seventh in the table with 19 points from 15 games, at the Campus PSG. For the occasion, Constance Picaud lined up in goal, ahead of a central defence made up of Thiniba Samoura, Eva Gaetino and Elisa De Almeida. Sakina Karchaoui and Amalie Vangsgaard occupied the flanks, supported by a midfield comprising Jackie Groenen, Sandy Baltimore and Grace Geyoro. Tabitha Chawinga and Marie-Antoinette Katoto formed the Parisian attack.

In the first half, the Parisians completely dominated proceedings, with almost total control of the ball. They opened the scoring with a magnificent shot from Geyoro that flew into the top corner of the Saint-Etienne goal (1-0, 18'). No sooner had Laurent Mortel's side regained their composure than they conceded a second goal to Katoto, who managed to get on the end of Chawinga's stylish outside-of-the-boot pass (2-0, 20'). A parade of Parisian chances followed, but the goalposts decided otherwise on three occasions (36', 44', 45').

The aim in the second half was to keep up the intensity and add to the scoreline as quickly as possible. And that they did, thanks to Geyoro's second goal, from a Chawinga assist after Groenen had played her in from deep. All the Paris Saint-Germain captain had to do was tap the ball into the back of the net (3-0, 55'). As had been the case in the first half, Les Rouge et Bleu managed to score a second goal very quickly, Chawinga again using the outside of the boot to nestle a shot into the far corner of the net (4-0, 56'). Once again the Parisians kept their foot on the ball and created a number of dangerous situations, this time from a corner, before finding the crossbar again with a fine header from Vangsgaard (69'). At the very end of the match, Laurina Fazer, who had come on a few minutes earlier, had the chance to score her side's fifth, but the Saint-Etienne goalkeeper pawed her shot wide for a corner ('87). A minute later, Jocelyn Prêcheur's side found the back of the net through Jade Le Guilly, who sent her shot into the top corner at the second time of asking (5-0, 88').

Un succès qui permet donc au club de la capitale de conforter sa 2e place au classement avec 42 points, 7 unités derrière l'Olympique Lyonnais et 5 devant le Paris FC (1 match en moins) et donc de valider officiellement son ticket pour les play-offs de la compétition. Place maintenant à l'UEFA Women's Champions League à l'occasion des quarts de finale aller face au club suédois du BK Häcken. Rendez-vous au Bravida Arena de Göteborg ce mercredi 20 mars à 18h45 !