Paris moves top of group after Ajax win

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Paris Saint-Germain defeated Ajax 3-1 on Wednesday 24 January at the Parc des Princes on Matchday 5 of the UEFA Women's Champions League. Match report:

More than a month after back to back wins over AS Roma (2-1 and 1-3), the Paris Saint-Germain Women's team returned to the Parc des Princes for the most prestigious of competitions: the UEFA Women's Champions League. Decked out in their new kit, which was unveiled on Wednesday, Les Rouge et Bleu entertained Ajax Amsterdam with the aim of securing a third consecutive win in the group phase.

With top spot on the line, Jocelyn Prêcheur fielded a central defence comprising Elisa De Almeida, Clare Hunt and Thiniba Samoura to protect goalkeeper Katarzyna Kiedrzynek. The full-backs were Sakina Karchaoui on the left flank and Jade Le Guilly on the right. In midfield, captain Grace Geyoro was joined by Dutch international Jackie Groenen. Up front, Sandy Baltimore played on the right wing and Tabitha Chawinga on the left, while Marie Antoinette Katoto led the line through the middle.

In a lively start to the match, it was the Parisians who grabbed the upper hand and the lead, via Marie-Antoinette Katoto's acrobatic scissor-kick, after wonderful skill from Sandy Baltimore on the right flank (1-0, 7'). It was a sumptuous move that got the Parisians off to the perfect start and confidence was sky high as the team went in search of a second goal. Tabitha Chawinga came closest, racing away, only to be denied by the Ajax goalkeeper (17').

Moments later, Clare Hunt came close to finding the net when her powerful pass, deflected off the Ajax defence and flew just wide of Regina Van Eijk's post (20'). But the Parisians pressed forward, and Grace Geyoro released Katoto in behind the defence and the Paris striker did the rest with (2-0, 25'). Just after the half-hour mark, striker Romee Leuchter pulled a goal back for her side (2-1, 31'), but Geyoro quickly restored Paris' two-goal cushion after more good lead up play from Chawinga and Katoto (3-1, 40'). 

At the start of the second period, it was once again the Parisians who looked dangerous through Chawinga, who drew another save from the Dutch keeper (49'), before the Malawi international was denied by a last-ditch Kay-Lee De Sanders tackle (54').

After that latest scare, Ajax again threatened, but Kiedrzynek was on hand to save from Danique Tolhoek (67'). After Katoto went off with injury, Les Rouge et Bleu sat back to defend their advantage and held on for a 3-1 win.

The Parisians can now turn their attentions to Saturday's Coupe de France last-16 clash with AS Saint-Etienne, who currently sit seventh in the D1 Arkema. The match will be played at Campus PSG and kicks off at 13:30 CET. Then it's back to the UEFA Women's Champions League next Tuesday, with an exciting final group stage clash in Germany against Bayern Munich, where Les Rouge et Bleu will be looking to confirm their place in the quarter-finals of the competition.

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