PSG Held to Shock Draw as Benfica Snatch Vital Point
Key Takeaways
- Benfica earned a crucial 1-1 draw against second-placed PSG at Estádio da Luz
- Joe Echegini's fifth-minute opener cancelled out by Carole Costa's 32nd-minute penalty conversion
- PSG dominated chances with 19 shots but managed just 2 on target
- Merveille Kanjinga hit the post twice as wasteful PSG dropped points
LISBON, PORTUGAL — Benfica secured a vital 1-1 draw against second-placed Paris Saint-Germain at Estádio da Luz, claiming their first point against the French giants in a result that lifted them to 30th place with 3 points while PSG remained second on 12 points. The teams shared possession almost equally at 51.4%-48.6%, but PSG's inability to convert their dominance into goals proved costly in their Champions League campaign.
Joe Echegini gave PSG the perfect start in just the fifth minute, latching onto a through ball and drilling a left-footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. The Nigerian midfielder's clinical finish suggested a long evening ahead for the Portuguese hosts. However, Benfica's response was swift and emphatic. In the 32nd minute, Carole Costa stepped up to convert a penalty with a composed right-footed strike to the bottom left corner, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and leveling the contest.
The tactical battle centered around PSG's relentless pressure against Benfica's disciplined defensive structure. Jackie Groenen orchestrated play from midfield for the visitors, while Tara Elimbi Gilbert provided width down the left flank. Benfica goalkeeper Lena Pauels produced crucial saves to keep her side level, while Diana Gomes and Carole Costa formed an imposing defensive partnership. The physical nature of the encounter saw 15 fouls committed by Benfica compared to PSG's 11, with three yellow cards shown to the visitors—Léa-Laëtitia Morissaint and Isabela both cautioned late on.
Despite 19 attempts, Paris Saint-Germain managed just 2 on target in a shocking display of wastefulness. PSG's pressure yielded 8 corners, yet they struggled to test Pauels with any regularity. Benfica, meanwhile, registered 13 shots but only troubled PSG goalkeeper Katarzyna Kiedrzynek twice beyond Costa's penalty. The statistics painted a picture of two sides lacking cutting edge in the final third.
The turning point arrived in the 75th minute when Merveille Kanjinga struck the left post twice in quick succession following a corner, with Léa-Laëtitia Morissaint's follow-up also going begging from close range. Minutes later, VAR overturned what PSG thought was a winning goal when Kanjinga was ruled offside in the 63rd minute. Those moments epitomized PSG's frustration as Benfica held firm through a nervy final 10 minutes, with Cristina Martín-Prieto and Beatriz Cameirão working tirelessly to relieve pressure. Marit Lund's delivery from set pieces kept PSG honest, while Anna Gasper's creativity in midfield gave the hosts occasional respite.