Paris Saint-Germain qualified for the final after their victory on penalties against Paris FC

The first semi-final of the new D1 Arkema playoffs offered a close match and suspense between PSG and PFC (2-2, 5-4 tab) on Saturday.

The logic was respected. Second in the championship at the end of the regular phase, the Paris Saint-Germain players qualified for the D1 Arkema final at the expense of Paris FC, third, after the penalty shootout (2 -2, 5-4 on the tab), Saturday May 11 at the Parc des Princes. The Rouge et Bleu will face the winner of the other semi-final between Olympique Lyonnais and Stade de Reims, Friday May 17, in the final.

A save from Katarzyna Kiedrzynek against Mathilde Bourdieu was enough for Paris Saint-Germain to qualify. Decisive during the penalty shootout, the Polish goalkeeper of PSG made up for it after a match during which she was involved in both Paris FC goals. While the PSG players monopolized the ball and stifled their opponents during the first period, too long control of the door, on a back pass, offered a goal to Clara Mateo, attentive (36th).

Suspense until the end of added time

Trailing at the break, the Rouge et Bleu quickly reacted upon returning from the locker room, with a goal ultimately disallowed for offside to Grace Geyoro, then a penalty, scored by the PSG captain after a foul on Sakina Karchaoui (52nd). But Katarzyna Kiedrzynek was again deceived on a shot from Daphné Corboz, when she had touched the ball without being able to deflect it (56th). Dominant, the PSG players once again came back to score thanks to Marie-Antoinette Katoto on a perfect cross from Sandy Baltimore (72nd), while they could have benefited from a second penalty a few minutes earlier for a high foot by Kaja Korosec in the head of Eva Gaetino, which the referee did not whistle.

Paris FC may, however, have some regrets since they had a match point in added time, on a two-on-one counter, which resulted in a strike on Katarzyna Kiedrzynek from Kessya Bussy, not helped by a little pass soft by Mathilde Bourdieu (94th). But PSG also had a double opportunity to conclude before the penalty shootout, in which Chiamaka Nnadozie made two decisive saves on her line (98th). Injured during this action and diminished, the Paris FC goalkeeper, specialist in penalties, was unable to defend her cage as she wanted during the penalties.

Defeated, Paris FC will play a small final with a place in the Champions League at stake, against the loser of the other semi-final between Lyon and Reims on Sunday. PSG will face the winner of this match to aim for a second French championship title in its history.