Seems like Endler made a similar play to Naeher vs Gilles at the Gold Cup, but unlike Naeher, she didn't give up a PK.
After watching the highlights, I'll be so kind to post them and to briefly comment on them : All in all, I guess we can say that Benfica, in the two legs of this quarter-finals, gave OL more of a game than many could have credited them for. Yes, this second leg ended on a 4-1 score, but the last two goals were scored during the 5 minutes of additional time and were totally random. I've got the impression that this OL side is still missing something, compared to other champion teams from the past, although Delphine Cascarino sure came back big after her injury (that strike of her second goal was incredible! There are people out there, those who never follow women's football, who wouldn't believe a woman can sling such a fast, powerful and accurate shot; Benfica's GK was totally caught by surprise by it, but she probably wouldn't have had a chance anyway ). It looks like this wasn't shown in DAZN's highlights: is the full game available for free anywhere? And anyway, at which time did it happen? Brave effort by Ajax in forcing Chelsea to a draw, but in this case advancing to the semifinal had been already decided in the first leg. A pair good saves by Zećira Mušović, anyway. Does anyone know why 16 yo Lily Yohannes wasn't on the pitch nor on the bench for Ajax? I don't think she's injured, since she's just being called to USWNT for the SheBelieves Cup (will she end choosing USA or Netherlands? ). Maybe she was suspended?
One could even dare to say that OFC Champions' League is more accurately covered on these boards than UEFA Champions' League.
Thanks: it looks strange that they didn't cover this action in an 8 minutes highlights video. Most probably not a PK, but looks like a relevant action anyway.
Props to the Ajax ladies for a good CL run this season. Had Leuchter's first good shot gone in along with the really bad GK kick that bounced off of Hoekstra it might have been an interesting evening for Emma Walsh's side. Didn't happen of course. We'll see who leaves Ajax this summer though it would be great if they can keep the team together for next season (I think Leuchter is probaly gone for sure). Ajax can clinch 2nd place with a draw against PSV this weekend which would give them a place in the play in round for the CL next year. They are four points behind FC Twente with four games to play but Twente have an easier schedule. Ajax also have a cup final against Feyenoord coming up.
Albert has turned into Notre Dame Albert (at least with her left foot) and angered a lot of USWNT fans this past week. (I'm more disappointed than angered.) Great win for PSG. Chawinga, Karchaoui, and Gaetino were very good, and Katoto was a big difference coming back for this leg.
QUARTER-FINALS SUMMARY Chelsea 1 - 1 Ajax (4-1 on agg.) Ramirez 33 --- Grant 65 Lyon 4 - 1 Benfica (6-2 on agg.) Cascarino 43, 51, Diani 90+1, 90+6 --- Alidou 45 PSG 3 - 0 Häcken (5-1 on agg.) Chawinga 27, Albert 70, Katoto 74 Barcelona 3 - 1 Brann (5-2 on agg.) Bonmati 24, Rolfö 56, Guijarro 88 --- Svendheim 70
In the same spirit of keeping up with OFC's Women's Champions' League's coverage... ...highlights of the second legs of the last two quarter-finals and comments on them: Although I am not joining the bandwagon of "Barcelona are unbetable, let's hand them the trophy and call it a day" (they repeatadly showed in these last seasons that they are indeed beatable instead, on a good day and with a good strategy), I must admit that at times they're really a pleasure to watch: technical players, physical prowess, neat spectacular actions. I guess the teams that remain in this competition can anyway give them a game and I am eager to follow the semifinals (although I just watched the highlights at this round, I'll try to carve myself the time to watch the semifinals and the final live ). Just out of curiosity: does anyone thinks that Caroline Graham-Hansen has a secret afterburner hidden somewhere in her feet? When she decides to speed up and reach the end-line to cross to the center of the box she looks basically unstoppable. I can't decide which one is more spectacular between her and Aitana Bonmatì, but, by watching the highlights from this game, I tend to lean to the Norwegian winger. PSG's offensive power is undeniable: Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Tabitha Chawinga can pose a solid threat to any team. Now that I see in particular the Malawian striker playing at this stage, it's even more painfully clear to me why there was no chance that she could have remained in Italian league and at Inter in particular: now she's playing at the ultimate stages of the top European competition, and she fully deserves it! What strikes me, in her, is her ability to score from any conceivable position or situation: she always sees the goal, she zeroes in on putting the ball into the net and she has the physical strength and the technical skills to do that basically from anywhere and at any given moment. So, in the end, there was no upset in the quarter-finals and we have in the semifinals the teams that we were expecting to be there. I guess we can anyway argue that the bottom-line is that all of the opponents fighted valiently and no-one of them actually managed to embarass themselves: even the ones that have been more squarely beaten in this second leg, as Häcken, had at least looked competitive in the first leg. They all showed that they were fully worthy to advance to this stage.
These ones are a little harder to predict than the quarter-finals, aren't they? One would tend to say Barcelona and OL (Barcelona because they are the reigning champions and they seem to play at the same level as last year, OL because they are well ahead of PSG on the domestic league, so one would expect that they're ahead of them in Champions' League also), but I don't think that's so easy. If I should predict which of the "mid-upsets" is more likely, Chelsea or PSG, I'd bet on Chelsea: although they badly lost to Barcelona in the final three seasons ago, when they were under Emma Hayes as they are today, some time has passed and this is not the same team that had looked so helpless back then. Although Caterina Macario most likely isn't at 100% yet, I guess she could be an important weapon: after all she has already scored in a final of Champions' League that she won with OL two years ago, and indeed vs Barcelona to boot; for sure, she's not a random player and I believe that she can make the difference.
Graham-Hansen just seems on another level this year. Combining her with Bonmati makes the right side of Barcelona almost unstoppable. I am initially drawn to compare this to Leao and T. Hernandez at Milan...yeah, I know you really can't compare how the players actually play, but the threat on the right from Barcelona Fem reminds me of the threat on the left for the Milan men. Both pairs look incredibly scary to defend against from the opposing teams viewpoint. Fantastic goals this round by Albert, Chawinga and Bonmati.
Katoto's assist for Chawinga's goal isn't being talked about enough. That was absolutely elite chance creation. In terms of pure finishing/striking quality, that was arguably Chawinga's best goal this season so far in my opinion. Karchaoui has had some defensive struggles this season (critical interception in the 2nd half yesterday though), but she's been every bit of an offensive nuisance as Chawinga and Katoto have been. I continue to like Vangsgaard at RWB; I'd play her there and then just one of Samoura/Le Guilly. Hacken definitely missed Anvegård in the second leg.
Tomorrow ... 🎉 Prêts à mettre l'ambiance au Groupama Stadium ?Plus que 48h pour réserver vos places et participer à cette soirée historique pour l'OL Féminin. ❤️💙🎟️ https://t.co/JdYy4rupRb pic.twitter.com/CQMnXhcQeF— OL Féminin (@OLfeminin) April 18, 2024 Without Eugenie Le Sommer, unavailable until the end of the season (and maybe the OG), injured during the Sweden-France match due to a very poor and incompetent refereeing. Hegerberg and Cascarino uncertain.
Barca - Chelsea : Comments from the Drome provençale : Despite a large domination, those who are (usually) the stronger lost against those who think they are strong. The first ones play at 10 since the beginning, i mean 10 in the flesh and the CGH hologram. And well, let 's say i have to admit they were 10 but i didn't see all of them... In front of those, the 2 truckers, who did nothing, and a scottish player who was more clever than her friends. As the match was pretty prosy and after the lunch time, i slept a little but i noted Giraldez was nervous and restless on his line, and Hayes had taken out her (english) sunday clothes.
HT OL 0 - 1 PSG i am not very surprised, without any striker at OL except the young Becho (Ada and ELS injured), and despite a good defense, PSG has a stronger front line that can hurt OL. And they have God with them, reincarnated as Albert's character... ha, I'm told in the headset that it doesn't count for much because HE doesn't really like football, he prefers synchronized swimming