Paris Saint-Germain saved again by Tabitha Chawinga against BK Häcken

In difficulty against the well-grouped Swedes, the Parisians won in the last moments of their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday (1-2), thanks to their providential scorer, the Malawian Tabitha Chawinga.

A victory down to the wire. Like their counterparts at Olympique Lyonnais on Tuesday evening, the Parisiennes waited until the end of their Champions League quarter-final first leg to win 2-1 against BK Häcken on Wednesday March 20. A success that Paris Saint-Germain once again owes to Tabitha Chawinga, top scorer for the club and the French championship. The capital club is taking an option to qualify for the semi-final, where it would meet OL.

Jocelyn Prêcheur’s players had done the hardest part when the American Eva Gaetino, who was experiencing her first meeting in the Champions League, opened the scoring with a free kick from Sakina Karchaoui headed by Tabitha Chawinga (0-1, 23rd). Opposite, Häcken was able to take advantage of the naivety of the young Thiniba Samoura, 20, to obtain a penalty after an elbow in the area, which Rosa Kafaji transformed into two stages (1-1, 42nd). A draw which held until Amalie Vangsgaard served the Malawian scorer, alone at the far post (1-2, 74th).

Chawinga as savior, Kiedrzynek to consolidate the victory

Deprived for the meeting of her usual partner in point Marie-Antoinette Katoto, victim of a blow, Tabitha Chawinga has once again been talked about. By delivering an offering and a goal, the Malawian signed on Wednesday her 22nd achievement and her 13th assist of the season in all competitions. A record which could have been increased by an additional goal if the Parisian attacker had not been flagged offside on a counterattack (53rd). Its finish and power were once again decisive in dynamiting a very tight Swedish block.

Behind her, PSG’s Polish goalkeeper Katarzyna Kiedrzynek also held her place, often filling the few gaps in a three-way defensive line that was not yet fully established. Like when she stood in front of Clarissa Larisey, who was heading towards goal alone after a hazardous header from Elisa De Almeida (27th).

She even initially repelled Rosa Kafaji’s penalty, before seeing the latter recover at the far post (42nd). His intervention at the very end of the match on a new dry strike from the number 8 of Häcken after a loss of ball from Sandy Baltimore (84th) concluded a successful game, equal to the performance of his Swedish counterpart, who pushed back for a long time the Parisian assaults. Paris Saint-Germain will play their quarter-final return at the Parc des Princes on Thursday March 27 to seal their qualification.