After a frustrating encounter, Paris Saint-Germain's women's team lost to Juventus in Round 2 of the UEFA Women's Champions League play-off on Wednesday (1-3). Here's a look back at the match.
There was an air of prestige in Piedmont as Paris Saint-Germain's women's team arrived back on the European stage. Facing Juventus in the first leg in the second round of the UEFA Women's Champions League play-offs, Fabrice Abriel's side were up against one of the continent's giants. For this perilous trip, the coach had concocted an attractive and resolutely attacking starting eleven. The trio of Echegini-Katoto-Leuchter were tasked with creating sparks up front, while key players Grace Geyoro, Griedge Mbock and Paulina Dudek formed an experienced backbone.
Between these two highly ambitious institutions on the European stage, a well fought battle was obviously to be expected. In fact, the opening stages of the match quickly showed the intentions of these two big guns. Buoyed by their home crowd, the Bianconere tried to get the game going with some intense tackles. And, from a quick attack, an old acquaintance, Denmark's Amalie Vangsgaard, opened the scoring the with a first-time finish from Sofia Cantore's inch-perfect cross (1-0, 7')...
This scenario in no way altered the plans of the Rouge et Bleu. Although Juve had gained confidence, there was no panic in the Parisian ranks. Fabrice Abriel's side were enterprising in the build-up to their attacking moves and stepped up a gear as the game wore on. Their tenacity paid off... And in a big way! Thiniba Samoura cut inside before unleashing a marvellous curling shot that nestled in the top corner of French goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin's net. (1-1, 12').
The match evened out and the tempo dropped slightly after a crazy first quarter of an hour. Open and fluid in their passing, the Parisians kept the ball but never broke through the Italian back line. Unfortunately, it was against the run of play that Juve regained the lead. Cantore, a tireless performer down the flank, pulled off an individual feat to score the Italian's second. (2-1, 34').
This game took an even more frustrating turn in the second half, when Bennison took advantage of a ricocheting ball in the penalty area to increase Juve's advantage (3-1, 60'). For the Parisians, the whole match came down to one question: how to make the most of possession against this ultra-pragmatic opponent? The Rouge et Bleu tried to find a solution with some fine team moves, but the Juventus players remained a threat right to the end with their counter-attacks... And when Fabrice Abriel's players got close to the target, there was always a foot, a leg or a head to deflect their attempts, as Thiniba Samoura found out with a last gasp clearance (74'). Despite an suffocating end to the match, the scoreline never changed.
Paris Saint-Germain lost this first leg in Italy. But it's only the halfway stage of the double-header, with the Rouge et Bleu looking to turn the tables and chart their European destiny at the Campus on Thursday 26th September. Time for the second leg!
