Man City Women Draw 1-1 With PSG as Elimbi Gilbert Equalises Three Minutes After Shaw Penalty
Manchester City Women were held to a 1-1 draw by Paris Saint-Germain in the Women's Champions League on Thursday night, October 29. City thought they had won it when Khadija Shaw scored a penalty in the 85th minute. But PSG substitute Tara Elimbi Gilbert equalised just three minutes later, in the 88th minute, to leave City still without a win in the league phase.
It was a quiet first half at the Joie Stadium. The best chance fell to Shaw, who fired wide after a lovely outside-of-the-boot pass from Lauren Hemp. She also headed wide of the far post from a cross by Aoba Fujino. PSG started cautiously and worked their way into the game by the break, but they rarely threatened. Lea-Laetitia Morissaint shot wide, and Sakina Karchaoui curled a free-kick over the bar.
City came out stronger after the restart. Fujino fired over from a tight angle, and Shaw was denied by a good save from PSG goalkeeper Oliwia Szperkowska when she was unmarked. Shaw also had a free header from a Greenwood corner, but could not connect. City had 15 shots to PSG's nine. For a long time, the game looked headed for a goalless draw.
The breakthrough came in the 83rd minute. Shaw made a powerful run to the byline and was brought down by Griedge Mbock inside the box. Shaw got up and sent a low penalty into the corner to the goalkeeper's right in the 85th minute. City's wait for a European win looked to be over.
PSG hit back quickly. Elimbi Gilbert broke down the right and finished from close range past goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita in the 88th minute. The visitors had barely threatened before that, but the goal gave them a lifeline. City manager Andree Jeglertz did not point the finger at his players afterwards.
It was City's third draw in three league-phase games. They sit 10th in the standings, four points behind the top four of Chelsea and Arsenal. PSG are sixth on five points. The result also continues a difficult week for City. Days earlier, they conceded an 89th-minute equaliser against Manchester United, which ended their perfect start to the Women's Super League season. City travel to London City Lionesses in the WSL on Sunday.