Paris FC recover two-goal deficit to hold Arsenal to 2-2 draw in Paris
Arsenal surrendered a two-goal lead at Stade Jean-Bouin as Paris FC fought back through Clara Mateo and an 87th-minute penalty from Maeline Mendy following a defensive handball error.
Arsenal build advantage across halves
Arsenal entered the UEFA Women's Champions League group fixture at the Stade Jean-Bouin seeking to recover from a 1-0 weekend defeat at Chelsea. Head coach Renee Slegers made two changes to her starting lineup in France, giving goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez a start in place of Anneke Borbe and bringing in defender Lotte Wubben-Moy for Steph Catley, who missed out due to back pain. Midfielders Georgia Stanway and Lisa Baum retained their places after their substitutions against Chelsea drew scrutiny. Paris FC set up in an organized low block, a setup that had troubled Arsenal in recent matches, and generated early opportunities through Aurelie Reynders while Rodriguez made an early routine save. The visiting side established possession dominance, seeing an effort from Emily Fox blocked and an Alessia Russo header fly wide. Arsenal broke the deadlock in the 41st minute when Russo exchanged passes with Kim Little, created space at the edge of the box, and placed a low strike into the bottom corner.
Paris FC mount second-half comeback
Arsenal extended their lead five minutes into the second half to score more than once in a single match for the first time this season. Stanway reacted quickest to an incoming cross from Fox, driving a half-volley into the net to register her first goal for the club and put the visitors ahead 2-0. Paris FC, managed by Sandrine Soubeyrand, had conceded five goals in a 5-2 opening matchday defeat to Barcelona and faced the prospect of a second consecutive loss. The home team altered the flow of play by pressing higher up the pitch as Arsenal attempted to manage their lead. In the 72nd minute, forward Clara Mateo initiated the Parisian fightback by breaking behind the defence, rounding Rodriguez, and sliding the ball into the net to make it 2-1.
- Alessia Russo opens the scoring for Arsenal
- Georgia Stanway doubles the lead on the half-volley
- Clara Mateo pulls a goal back for Paris FC
- Maeline Mendy converts a penalty awarded for handball
Defensive mix-up concedes late equaliser
Arsenal retained their narrow lead until a breakdown in communication inside their own penalty area occurred with three minutes of regulation time remaining. Rodriguez took a short goal kick and passed the ball directly to England captain Leah Williamson. Believing that play had not officially resumed and intending to adjust the ball to take the kick herself, Williamson picked it up with her hand. Romanian referee Iuliana Demetrescu ruled that the ball was in play the moment Rodriguez passed it and awarded a penalty to Paris FC in the 87th minute. Substitute Maeline Mendy took the spot-kick and converted from 12 yards, sending Rodriguez the wrong way to level the match at 2-2.
Domestic test looms for London side
The late draw prevented Arsenal from securing a second consecutive European victory, leaving them with four points from two Champions League matches. Slegers faces renewed domestic pressure, with Arsenal having accumulated five points from their opening four Women's Super League fixtures. That return leaves the London club seven points behind league leaders Manchester City ahead of their meeting on Sunday. Paris FC earned their first point of the league phase to move into 13th place in the standings. Soubeyrand's squad next faces Swedish side Hacken in late October, with Hacken sitting in the penultimate position in the table following back-to-back defeats.
