Paris Saint-Germain will face Olympique Lyonnais in the semifinals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, after Jocelyn Prêcheur’s side cruised past BK Häcken on Thursday to secure a 5-1 aggregate victory over the Damallsvenskan side.
Leading 2-1 from the first leg, PSG opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark in the French capital through Tabitha Chawinga. Quickfire strikes from Korbin Albert and Marie-Antoinette Katoto wrapped up a comprehensive victory in the second half.
As it happened
On a footballing collision course for a highly-anticipated semifinal clash with fellow French side Olympique Lyonnais, Paris Saint-Germain flew out of the home dressing room with the returning figure of Marie-Antoinette Katoto seeing her effort well-saved at the near post by Häcken goalkeeper Jennifer Falk.
The hosts’ unparalleled attacking dominance throughout the opening quarter-hour eventually paid-dividends in the 27th minute as les Parisiennes’ top goalscorer this season, Tabitha Chawinga, fiercely struck strike-partner Katoto’s pin-point pass past Falk – via the base of the post.
Embed from Getty ImagesUnbeaten in 10 successive home matches across all competitions, PSG were close to hitting the back of the net once again after only five minutes of the second half, as Sakina Karchaoui’s cross to the back post to Katoto saw Falk pull off a brilliant save to deny her on her return to les Parisiennes’ starting eleven. The Häcken number one – impressive back in Sweden, and so far in France – again denied Katoto not long after, as she stood tall to block the striker’s close-range effort.
Stunningly, Korbin Albert put the game to bed in the French capital in the 70th minute, as the United States midfielder showed no love for Häcken, sending a screamer of a strike from distance into the top corner of the net.
Katoto would eventually get her name on the scoresheet only four minutes later as Karchaoui’s delicious delivery into the danger zone was headed home by the French international. Second-half substitutes Ruby Grant and Anna Csiki forced late saves from PSG goalkeeper Katarzyna Kiedrzynek.
Embed from Getty ImagesHowever, they would have no lasting effect on the aggregate scoreline in the tie, as incidentally, Paris Saint-Germain’s last appearance in the last four of the UEFA Women’s Champions League saw them beaten by none other than Lyon, so Gérard Prêcheur’s side will surely be out for revenge next month.
Meanwhile, Häcken will turn their attention back to the Svenska Cupen – with a semi-final clash against domestic champions Hammarby on Sunday – with their Damallsvenskan season not due to begin until April.
The lineups
PSG: Kiedrzynek; De Almeida, Gaetino, Karchaoui, Guilly; Baltimore, Albert, Geyoro; Vangsgaard, Chawinga, Katoto
HAC: Falk; Wijk, Rybrink, Luik, Junttila-Nelhage; Curmark, Sørensen; Bergström, Bah, Kafaji; Schröder
