Seeded teams for League Path: Wolfsburg, PSG, Real Madrid, Sparta Prague, BK Häcken Unseeded: Paris FC, Frankfurt, Manchester United, Levante/Twente, Valerenga/Celtic
Wonderful win for PFC which deserved it ! Sandrine Soubeyrand makes a very good job with young players, some are amateurs, and/or not very well paid .... (and of course with the "old" Thiney and Soyer, in tears, loyal to their club since the very beginning !
Ajax go through, defeating Dinamo BSUPC from Belarus 3-0. A brace from Leuchter and a penalty from Spitse as Ajax out shot the opponents, 21-4. I didn't see Isa Kardinaal on the team sheet and wonder if she if injured again.
What drama in Oslo. Vålerenga equalized in injury–time of extra time and took the game to penalties and then won 11-10 in the shoot-out. 21 straight penalties converted until Guro Pettersen saved from her Celtic goalkeeper colleague. Both Norwegian clubs through tonight, but Vålerenga only impressed mentally, not football wise.
League Path: Seeded: Wolfsburg, PSG, Real Madrid, Sparta Prague, BK Häcken Unseeded: Paris FC, Frankfurt, Twente, Manchester United, Valerenga Champions Path Seeded: Slavia Prague, Rosengard, St.Pölten, Glasgow City, Benfica, Zürich, Roma Unseeded: Ajax, Subotica, Poltava, Apollon, Valur, Cluj, Brann
Thiney and Soyer played the whole game; 120 min. Thiney is 37 y.o but in good shape. When Hervé Renard arrived as the new NT coach, she declared she felt good and ready why not if... They did a feat yesterday 📹 Au coeur de notre après-match... À consommer sans modération 😍💙🔵⚪ #CertifiéParis #UWCL pic.twitter.com/QmLpGMywNW— Paris FC Féminines (@PFC_feminines) September 9, 2023
May I remind you that Chiamaka Nnadozie is ONLY 22 years of age. Had one hell of a World Cup with Nigeria including a Sinclair penalty save. She was nominated for GOTY last season, and clearly has no plans of slowing down. A star in the making. 📸: UWCL, FIFA. pic.twitter.com/ZrKnbIDtLv— SHE scores bangers (@SHEscoresbanger) September 9, 2023
Yes, I was quite impressed by her at the World Cup too and I wasn't aware she played in Paris FC until yesterday. I was initially surprised at seeing so few French supporters on the standing, then I realised they were actually in Sweden!
Ten years ago, France and Thiney were on the losing side in a penalty shoot-out at that same stadium in Linköping. May be that played a part in her tearful reaction too. France lost surprisingly to Denmark in the 2013 Euros QF. I remember it vividly, because Norway had just beaten Spain in another QF and were expected to meet France in the semis. Feels like a generation ago now. In Norway's case, it all depends on the luck of the draw. In the League Path, Vålerenga need to draw Häcken or Sparta Prague, otherwise it's highly unlikely they make it to the UWCL group stage. Vålerenga had a few key players injured last night, but didn't impress against Celtic, according to reports. In the Champions Path, Brann, under their new coach Martin Ho, beat Anderlecht quite easily. If they can avoid Benfica, Roma and may be Rosengård, there is a good chance they can reach the group stage this time. We need the ranking points for sure.
There is a host city for every mini group. In that particular group with Arsenal and Paris, the host team didn't make the final.
Now this is interesting.... Levante with a formal complaint to UEFA for the unsportsmanlike action by Twente in the UWCL match. Requests that an investigation be initiated for "very serious violation of sporting fair play" and that the relevant disciplinary measures be adopted. https://x.com/relevo/status/1701639458137989334?s=20 Well... Levante have a point here. Yes, there is no rule saying that ball needs to be "given back" from out throw to the team that put it out of play out of courtesy. It's a fair play action. Levante though observed fair play rule when they put the ball out of play, allowing medical team to enter the pitch for injuried opponent player... Twenete on the other hand initailly intended to gave the ball back by crossing it towards Levante defender - who left the ball for her keeper - but at the same time Twente striker chased the ball first and scored. That really was a low blow.
I checked the disciplinary rules and there is nothing much on fair play punishment. One game ban for unsporting behaviour is the only thing I can find.
It was dumb by the Levante player that she let the ball pass her. Interesting that Twente wanted to pass the ball to Levante but when Jansen scores all her teammates celebrate. In cases when a player scores this way we have seen games where the team that has scored remains passive on the next attack and allows the other team to score. I hope Twente will lose the play-off!
In any case not a good look for Twente at all considering they were 0-2 down at that point and now the appearance is that only with such a goal they managed to turn it around for the final score of 3-2.
Twente will not get punished for sure, the fair play rankings are independent from the disciplinary components if the competition.
The Times suggest UEFA are looking at a format change/expansion. "Uefa and key stakeholders are discussing the prospect of expanding the Women’s Champions League as fears grow that its present structure is hindering the growth of the game." "The Champion’s League could now be further expanded by increasing the number of groups, which would allow more teams to qualify, or by altering the co-efficient system, which could give greater emphasis to the top women’s leagues. All options remain on the table." I can't foresee any change before the 2025/26 season. Basically UEFA looking at giving more slots to big nations.
Häcken vs Twente Real Madrid vs Valerenga Frankfurt vs Sparta Praha Paris FC vs Wolfsburg Manchester United vs PSG
Apollon vs Benfica Zürich vs Ajax Roma vs Vorskla Valur vs St.Pölten Slavia Praha vs Cluj Glasgow City vs Brann Subotica vs Rosengard