Paris seal final spot after ending Wolfsburg's reign
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Article summary
Paris Saint-Germain 1-2 VfL Wolfsburg (agg: 3-2)
The French side are through to their first ever final after holding off a late Wolves rally to knock out the champions.
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• Paris reach first ever final after hanging on to end Wolfsburg's reign
• French side through despite a home loss to the champions
• Aurélie Kaci stretches first-leg advantage
• Martina Müller and Zsanett Jakabfi give the visitors a win on the day
• Paris meet Frankfurt in 14 May Berlin final
Paris Saint-Germain made history by qualifying for their first UEFA Women's Champions League final despite a narrow home defeat in their semi-final second leg with reigning champions VfL Wolfsburg.
The German side's hopes of making it three straight titles took an early blow as Aurélie Kaci's sixth-minute effort stretched Paris's 2-0 first-leg advantage. Second-half goals from Martina Müller and Zsanett Jakabfi set up a tense finish, but the hosts held out to book a final date with 1. FFC Frankfurt in Berlin on 14 May.
Wolfsburg needed a fast start to help negate last week's defeat in the opening instalment, but Yuki Ogimi was unable to provide it as she failed to convert a cross from point-blank range in the opening exchanges. Farid Benstiti's charges punished the German side seconds later with the opening goal, which came after Kaci weaved her way into the area before blasting a shot past Almuth Schult.
That forced Wolfsburg into action and they dominated large spells of the first period without being able to find a way behind the home defence. It was more of the same after the restart, but Alexandra Popp in the Wolves attack was frustrated time and again by expert interventions from the Paris defence as well as by an outstanding save from Katarzyna Kiedrzynek.
The champions nonetheless received a lifeline in the 71st minute when substitute Müller diverted a Verena Faisst shot into the net, and the veteran 35-year-old forward then turned provider three minutes later, setting up Jakabfi to fire past Kiedrzynek from inside the area.
That set up a frantic finale as Wolfsburg threw everything at the hosts with the knowledge that another goal would put them through, but Paris held out to spark wild celebrations inside the Stade Charléty – and give the capital club hope of becoming the second French side to lift the trophy after two-time winners Olympique Lyonnais.