Despite being dominant, the Paris FC players missed their big European debut, giving in to the efficiency of the Swedes from BK Hacken (2-1) on Wednesday at the Charléty stadium, for the first day of the Champions League.
Learning happens there: for their first qualification in the group stage since 2017 and the merger with FCF Juvisy, which reached the semi-finals in 2013, the Parisiennes missed the boat.
After having achieved two exploits in the preliminary round, first beating Arsenal then especially the double European champions Wolfsburg, outgoing finalists, Paris FC fell against the least renowned opponent in its group.
Because coach Sandrine Soubeyrand’s players will then face the Chelsea Blues, four-time reigning English champions and semi-finalists last year, and the Spanish Real Madrid.
The teammates of Gaëtane Thiney, 38, had started well. Mathilde Bourdieu and Clara Mateo had the first opportunity. Double opportunity even, but Swedish goalkeeper Jennifer Falk made a double save (3rd).
It was against the run of play that young attacker Rosa Kafaji (29th) opened the scoring, alone in the area after a marking error.
Same scenario in the second period: sterile domination of the Parisians, insolent efficiency of the Swedes. Faced with an uninspired defense, Anna Sandberg managed a magnificent sequence concluded with a half-volley from the left to double the score (56th).
In the process, Mathilde Bourdieu laid the first stone of the comeback by obtaining a penalty, transformed by Julie Dufour (59th). But if the PFC then tried until the end, like this long shot from Julie Soyer (90th 2), success was not there.
This qualification has already allowed Paris FC to “take an additional step compared to last year”, Pierre Ferracci, president of the club eliminated by Roma in the preliminary round last season, recently explained to AFP.
For the next step, see you next week at Chelsea, favorite of the group.