Advantage Lyon as six-minute blitz leaves PSG on edge of Champions League elimination

French football was changed in 2011 when QSI invested their wealth into Paris Saint-Germain making them the richest club in the country and shifting the balance of power in their favour, and while in the men’s game, this has seen the club become the dominant force, they have more work yet to do in the women’s game if they want to take Olympique Lyonnais’s crown. 

That crown looked a bit less stable yesterday evening when PSG visited the Groupama Stadium for their Champions League semi-final against their eternal rivals. Les Parisiennes scored either side of halftime to put the team into a commanding lead, and with ten minutes remaining of the game it appeared as if they had managed to land a monumental blow on Lyon.

The star of the evening looked as if it would be Marie-Antoinette Katoto, the PSG striker was lively throughout the game, providing an outlet for a team that spent the evening patient and disciplined as they waited for their opportunity to touch the ball. The warning signs were there for Lyon as Katoto burst onto a lofted through-ball but her touch was heavy and she was falling as she tried to control the ball. 

Just before halftime that threat turned into action, Sandy Baltimore hooked a ball through a well-defended box. Christiane Endler could do enough to push the ball away, Katoto was the quickest to react and opened the scoring for the visitors. Halftime did little to cool Katoto down and her reactions were once again the difference maker as she lurked around the defensive line before pouncing on Tabitha Chawinga’s mishit shot and doubling PSG’s lead. 

Marie-Antoinette Katoto (23) on her decision to stay at PSG despite problems within the squad:

«I know it, PSG will win the Champions League. With the