Arsenal Women 1-2 Paris St-Germain Feminines


Denmark striker Signe Bruun gave PSG a late victory over Arsenal

Arsenal were knocked out of the Women’s Champions League by Paris St-Germain to end British interest at the quarter-final stage of this year’s competition.

Marie-Antoinette Katoto’s superb near-post volley put PSG ahead early on, before England forward Beth Mead’s curling strike drew Arsenal level.

But Katoto teed up substitute Signe Bruun to poke home and set up a semi-final tie with fellow French club Lyon.

Defeat for the Gunners follows Glasgow City’s loss to Wolfsburg on Friday.

The result also denies Joe Montemurro’s side a place in the 2020-21 Champions League, after Arsenal finished third in the Women’s Super League table on a points-per-game method.

They had not played a competitive match since the WSL was suspended in March – their last game was a 2-1 defeat by Chelsea in the League Cup final on 29 February – and a lack of match sharpness seemed evident as the contest wore on.

PSG, beaten by Lyon in the French League Cup final only 12 days ago, were deserved winners with a strong second-half showing at San Sebastian’s Anoeta Stadium, hosting the one-legged last-eight tie under revised rules because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Even before Bruun’s 77th-minute winner Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger had been kept far busier than her opposite number, most notably denying Katoto a second after the France striker went clean through on goal.

Arsenal, bidding to reach their first Champions League semi-final since 2013, failed to create a really clear opportunity to level again in the final 10 minutes – although Vivianne Miedema was nearly allowed to tap in at the far post only for Caitlin Foord’s low cross to be diverted behind for a corner.

PSG will now take on Lyon for a place in the final, after England’s Nikita Parris helped the six-time European champions to a 2-1 win over Bayern Munich in Saturday’s other tie.

The Gunners begin the new WSL season with a home match against Reading on 6 September, while they still have to play north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in their 2019-20 FA Cup quarter-final on 26 September.



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