First a certainty: the semi-final return next Saturday (9 p.m.), at the Parc des Princes, promises to be thrilling.
This Sunday, in a moderately full Groupama Stadium and where an ultra Lyonnais will have spent the meeting screaming into his megaphone, the Parisiennes held on despite a complicated scenario.
In the end they lost 3-2.
Everything had started perfectly.
From the 6th minute, following intense and combined pressing from Baltimore and Däbtritz, Marie Katoto inherited a good ball in the area.
Her perfect sequence, concluded with a cross shot from the left close to the post, left Christiane Endler, the best goalkeeper in the world and former Parisian, on the spot.
All to his joy, Grace Gayoro, the captain of PSG, jumped on the shoulders of his girlfriend but fell to the ground.
It does not matter: Paris led in the score and showed from the start that the new episode of the Hamraoui affair, which had shaken the team the day before, was digested.
As a reminder, an altercation between the midfielder and Sandy Baltimore broke out in the middle of the session.
Under the eyes of Leonardo, the Parisian sports director who had experienced the tenth coronation of the boys in Ligue 1 the day before, the players of the capital mastered their business.
Katoto however lacked lucidity on a counter where Diani was waiting for the ball in vain (14th).
Knee down for the 22 players #OLPSG pic.twitter.com/Q5QCxzr5Vj
— The Parisian |
PSG (@le_Parisien_PSG) April 24, 2022
It was then that the Czech goalkeeper of PSG, Bara Votikova began a series of fouls with serious consequences.
Passes again for the exit a little late in the feet of Malard when she seemed to be playing the ball.
The referee whistled the penalty and Wendie Renard, for her hundredth European match, transformed it (1-1, 23rd).
Votikova's setbacks worsened with this missed foot clearance, full axis, recovered by Hegerberg who sent Macario to give the Lyonnaises the advantage (2-1, 34th).
The worst was yet to come.
On an indecipherable action, Votikova refused to grab a ball blocked by Dudek which she let slip behind her.
In a panic, she tried to clear the ball in front of her line.
Too late.
Macario was there to score the 3-1 goal (51st).
At this moment, the ghost of the sinking of the first leg in the league, where Lyon had won 6-1 in the middle of the Hamraoui affair resurfaced.
Fortunately for the Parisiennes, success returned.
Katoto provoked a hand from Malard.
The referee did not see her.
The VAR yes.
And Dudek succeeded in his penalty even if Endler touched the ball (3-2, 58th).
In a tense end to the match, the changes were numerous.
Eugénie Le Sommer made her appearance on the Lyonnais side (66th).
With great gestures Katoto indicated to her trainer that the young Laurina Fazer was exhausted.
Folquet replaced her (75th).
Lawrence suffered from cramps (85th).
But Paris dominated the end of the game.
Without worrying Endler even if the recovery of Katatoto was close to the transverse (90 + 4).
And it was even Votikova who made a miraculous save save on a recovery from Hegerberg (90 + 5).
MATCH SHEET
Half time: 2-1.
Spectators: 22,774.
Referee: Ms. Martinčic (CRO).
Goals.
OL: Renard (23rd sp), Macario (34th, 50th).
PSG: Katoto (6th), Dudek (58th sp).
Warnings.
PSG: Geyoro (13th), Karchaoui (64th).
Lyon: Endler - Carpenter, Buchanan, Renard (cap.), Bacha (Morroni, 66th) - Horan, Henry, Macario - D Cascarino (Laurent, 90th + 2), Hegerberg, Malard (Le Sommer, 66th).
Trainer: Bompastor.
PSG: Votikova – Lawrence (De Almeida, 87th), Dudek, Ilestedt, Karchaoui – Däbritz, Fazer (Folquet, 79th), Geyoro (cap.) – Diani, Katoto, Baltimore (Bachmann, 77th).
Coach: Ollé-Nicolle.