Suzanne Wrack was in Paris for us tonight, so I’ll leave you with her match report. Thanks for your company and emails - goodnight!
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Full time: Paris Saint-Germain 1-2 Lyon (agg: 3-5)
That’s it! Lyon are through to yet another Champions League final after overcoming PSG in an excellent game. It was settled by fine headers from two of Lyon’s superstars, Ada Hegerberg and Wendie Renard. And it means we will have a classic final in Turin on 21 May: the reigning champions Barcelona against the perennial champions Lyon.
90+5 min Hegerberg almost gets her second goal, flashing just wide after cutting inside Dudek. I think she slipped as she took the shot.
90+2 min PSG know this is over.
90 min Five minutes of added time.
89 min Macario almost adds some gloss with a vicious low drive from the edge of the area. Voll gets down smartly to her right to make a good save.
88 min PSG will rue mistakes in the first leg and missed chances in the second. There has been very little between the teams in this tie.
86 min A change for Lyon: Kadeisha Buchanan replaces the injured Griedge Mbock Bathy.
85 min Wendie Renard has scored some huge goals in her career, and that’s another one for the portfolio. She has been there right from the start of Lyon’s dominance, and now she’ll have the chance to win an eighth Champions League.
What an emphatic header from Wendie Renard. Bacha, on the right, swung a really good free-kick into the six-yard box, where Renard towered over Diani and thumped a header past Voll.
GOAL! PSG 1-2 Lyon (agg: 3-5; Renard 83)
The captain Wendie Renard has put Lyon into the Champions League final!
82 min Another change for Lyon: Eugenie Le Sommer replaces the injured Delphine Cascarino.
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81 min At the other end, Macario has a shot crucially blocked by Ilestedt. The chance came after superb play from Hegerberg, who bounced Dudek off the ball and then fizzed it into Macario.
80 min: Chance for PSG! And another one goes by. Dabritz’s free-kick is touched off neatly by Diani to Bachmann, who sprays wide of the near post.
79 min This is so tense.
76 min: Great save from Endler! What a chance that was for PSG to square the tie. It came from a beautiful one-touch move on the left, with Baltimore eventually lifting a first-time pass into Karchaoui on the edge of the area. She chested it deftly into the space behind the defence and lifted a shot that was pushed behind by Endler. It came at a decent height for Endler but it was still a superb reaction save to her right.
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75 min PSG have struggled to generate much attacking momentum since Katoto’s equaliser. They have 15 minutes plus added time to score the goal that would take the tie to extra-time.
73 min Correction: I do think Karchaoui will be able to continue. In fact, she’s continuing as I type.
72 min This game has flown by, which is usually a good sing. I don’t think Karchaoui will be able to continue.
71 min PSG have another injury problem, with Karchaoui limping heavily. She’s receiving treatment off the field.
70 min “Hello Rob,” says Kári Tulinius. “There’s something so satisfying about seeing your club score a goal like Katoto’s, when two or three close-range attempts get saved, before finally the ball ends up in the back of the net. The anticipation keeps rising, until finally you can cheer.”
That is so true. It’s a kind of weird variation on the crescendo: yes, no, yes, no, yes, no, YA FUGGIN DANCER!
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69 min Nothing comes of the corner.
68 min Lyon are trying to take the sting out of the game, and there is a fair bit of sting. Macario’s cross is knocked behind by the off balance Cascarino, but the referee mistakenly gives Lyon a corner.
66 min Lyon are looking a bit flustered, which is testament to the quality and intensity of PSG’s second-half performance.
65 min “I have no incisive analysis to offer,” says Adam Kline-Schoder, “other than to say that what the women’s Champions League has been this season is exactly what I love about football: outrageously talented players doing outrageous football things under intense pressure.
“In particular I have really rated Bachmann since she was at Chelsea, and, given the way she runs games every time I have watched her, it baffles at least my little mind why she doesn’t start more frequently. I’d be terrified playing against her; she’s so tricky. Here’s to more drama and skill in what remains here.”
64 min This is pulsating stuff. The pace of the game has been unrelenting.
GOAL! PSG 1-1 Lyon (agg: 3-4; Katoto 62)
PSG are right back in the tie! Endler made two excellent saves, first from Diani and then from Baltimore, but Katoto slammed the loose ball into the net from six yards. Now then!
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58 min: Lyon substitution That assist-that-wasn’t is Malard’s last contribution of the game; she has been replaced by Damaris Egurrola.
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NO GOAL! PSG 0-1 Lyon
The goal has been ruled out for offside. It was incredibly tight, but Malard was just ahead of the last defender when she set up Hegerberg.
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To say that goal came against the run of play is an understatement. It’s an affront to the run of play, but Lyon will not care one jot. A cross from the right was headed back across goal by Malard, and Hegerberg had a simple header from eight yards.
GOAL! PSG 0-2 Lyon (Hegerberg 56)
Ada Hegerberg has put Lyon into yet another Champions League final!
NO PENALTY!
VAR check for a PSG penalty I assume it must be for a potential handball.
54 min: Fine save from Endlet! A mistake from Endlet leads to a PSG corner, but she redeems herself with a spectacular flying save from Dabritz’s 20-yard drive.
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51 min Bachmann has made a difference since coming on at half-time, and PSG are having a really good spell. If they get the next goal, all bets are off.
47 min: Great chance for PSG! Diani plays a one-two with the substitute Bachmann but then screws her shot into the side netting. That was their best chance of the match so far.
47 min Malard shoots over from long range.
46 min Peep peep! Lyon begin the second half.
PSG are making a double half-time substitution. Charlotte Voll replaces the injured Barbora Votikova in goal, and Ramona Bachmann has come on for Laurina Fazer.
Half-time reading
Half time: Paris Saint-Germain 0-1 Lyon (agg: 2-4)
Ada Hegerberg’s expert header has given Lyon a two-goal cushion in this tie. There hasn’t been much in it but Lyon have been the slicker, more incisive team and deserve their lead.
HEGERBERG HEADER 🤯@AdaStolsmo scores her fifth in five @UWCL matches 🔥
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) April 30, 2022
🇫🇷 🎙 👉 https://t.co/8BrCbQycaR
🇬🇧 🎙 👉 https://t.co/sXW3IHSXpO pic.twitter.com/CRWRr8OcYy
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45+2 min A poor corner from Bacha goes out of play beyond the far post.
45+1 min Two minutes of added time. Lyon have a corner, which Bacha will surely drop straight under the crossbar.
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44 min Votikova is really struggling. If it was an outfield player you could wait until half-time, but when it’s the keeper it’s a huge risk to not replace her.
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43 min The PSG keeper Votikova has a problem. I think she twisted her knee as she steadied herself in anticipation of Malard’s volley. She’s going to continue for now, though she is limping.
42 min: Another chance for Lyon! Macario (I think) lobs a pass over the defence to Malard, who barely makes contact with an attempted volley. It was a difficult ball to take, dropping over her shoulder, but she’ll still feel she should have done better.
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40 min Another Lyon corner leads to a desperate scramble in the six-yard box. I have no idea how that stayed out. I think there might also have been a VAR check for handball; if so, nothing came of it.
37 min The first hint of a chance for PSG. Renard loses the ball in a dangerous area to Katoto, who crosses to Geyoro in the area. Her shot on the turn is smothered and then Lawrence drives the loose ball wide from the edge of the area.
35 min: Chance for Lyon! Macario finds a bit of space in the D and hits a shot that deflects behind off Dudek for Lyon’s first corner of the game. Bacha swings it beyond the far post towards Renard, whose looping header back across goal drops just wide.
33 min It feels like Lyon have the game under control at the moment. Though PSG have maintained a fast pace, they are struggling to create chances.
29 min PSG surely have to score the next goal. They have played pretty well, but Lyon look much more incisive.
25 min: Vital save from Votikova! Lyon should be out of sight. Cascarino ran straight through on goal and tried to go round Votikova, who dived at her feet to grab the ball. That was such a good chance. It was a fairly routine through ball, but the stretching Dudek couldn’t intercept and that left Cascarino one on one with Votikova.
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24 min Dabritz’s corner is headed behind for another, PSG’s sixth of the game already. Dabritz’s inswinger clears everyone in the middle and bounces across to the far side of the field.
23 min PSG are starting to recover their composure and have won another corner.
19 min Goals change games, and now it’s Lyon who are on top. Cascarino runs Baltimore and lifts a deep cross towards Malard, who doesn’t connect properly with an overhead kick. Moments later Malard collects a loose ball on the edge of the area and drives straight at Votikova.
15 min PSG had been the better team, which will make that goal sting even more. The finish was fantastic but so was the cross from Selma Bacha. She didn’t just dump it into an area; she saw Hegerberg’s movement and picked her out perfectly.
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The goal came out of nothing. The left-back Bacha drove a deep, angled cross towards Hegerberg, who pulled away from Karchaoui and looped a superb header back across goal. Votikova, who was slightly off her line, had no chance. Majestic finishing.
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GOAL! PSG 0-1 Lyon (agg: 2-4; Hegerberg 14)
Ada Hegerberg gives Lyon the lead with a fantastic header!
13 min Baltimore tries to wriggle away from Carpenter, who defends solidly.
10 min Lyon move the ball really neatly on the right, allowing the full-back Carpenter to charge into space. Her cross is cleared by Ilestedt.
7 min It’s been a really good start from PSG, with most of the game so far taking place in Lyon’s half.
4 min Geyoro breaks down the left, surges into the area and is well tackled by the covering Horan (I think). PSG have already had three or four corners.
3 min A PSG corner is cleared to the edge of the area, where Dabritz hits a first-time shot that is blocked. It’s been a lively start.
2 min There’s a lot of attention of the PSG keeper Barbora Votikova, who had a dreadful time in the first leg. And she almost gets in trouble again, dithering over a backpass and eventually having to lunge feet first at Macario to win the ball. Sheesh.
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2 min “Hi Rob,” says Stewart Bowling. “The question is why wouldn’t you want to read the frantic stylings of some old bloke? I (and many others) certainly do!”
You say that now; let’s reassess the situation after, say, three minutes.
1 min Peep peep! PSG kick off from right to left.
There’s a sensational atmosphere at the Parc des Princes, with a record crowd expected. Here we go.
Anyone out there? I was hoping to be watching DAZN’s coverage by now, but all I’m looking at it is a screen telling me that coverage will begin six minutes ago.
Ah, here we go. It’s live!
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I’m not sure about the rights in other countries, but you can watch this game live on YouTube in Britain and France. But why would you do that when you can read the frantic stylings of some old bloke watching it on your behalf?
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An hour before KO pic.twitter.com/BeXGYxc7jT
— Suzy Wrack (@SuzyWrack) April 30, 2022
Team news
PSG are unchanged from the first leg, with Kheira Hamraoui still absent from the squad after her training-ground bust-up with Sandy Baltimore.
Lyon make one change: Griedge Mbock Bathy replaces Kadeisha Buchanan in defence.
Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3) Votikova; Lawrence, Ilestedt, Dudek, Karchaoui; Fazer, Geyoro, Dabritz; Diani, Katoto, Baltimore.
Substitutes: Picaud, Voll, Luana, Bachmann, Ildhusoy, E Cascarino, Diallo, Huitema, Folquet, Khelifi, Le Guilly.
Lyon (4-2-3-1) Endler; Carpenter, Mbock Bathy, Renard, Bacha; Horan, Henry; D Cascarino, Macario, Malard; Hederberg.
Substitutes: Bouhaddi, Holmgren, Morroni, Le Sommer, Egurrola, Sombath, Buchanan, Cayman, Benyahia, Sylla.
Referee Rebecca Welch (England).
Le XI de départ lyonnais pour cette demi-finale retour d'@UWCL ! 🦁🔴🔵#PSGOL pic.twitter.com/eRalWXt5sg
— OL Féminin (@OLfeminin) April 30, 2022
📋 La composition d'équipe est là !#𝗣𝗦𝗚𝗢𝗟 | #𝗨𝗪𝗖𝗟 pic.twitter.com/7RFl2p7DlP
— PSG Féminines (@PSG_Feminines) April 30, 2022
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the latest act in an epic Champions League rivalry. For the second time in the last decade, France’s finest are meeting for the third consecutive season. Lyon beat Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final in 2019-20; last season, PSG ended Lyon’s five-year reign as European champions and their 14-year monopoly of Division 1 Feminine.
Lyon look set to regain their domestic title this year, but today is all about earning the right to face Barcelona - who survived a scare against Wolfsburg in the other-semi-final - in Turin on 21 May. Last weekend’s first leg was a cracker, a topsy-turvy 3-2 win for Lyon, and this game is almost impossible to call.
Kick off 8pm BST, 9pm in Paris.
Wᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴅʏ 👊🔴🔵#PSGOL #UWCL pic.twitter.com/KNKIjQClQD
— OL Féminin (@OLfeminin) April 30, 2022
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