The stage was set in Sweden, as Bravida Arena played host to the first leg of the Quarter Final battle of the UEFA Women’s Champions League between BK Häcken and Paris Saint Germain.

After scraping qualification in the final moments of the group stage, PSG would be looking to capitalise on the hungry momentum instilled in them from their recent victory over FC Bayern München.

As for the hosts, the Swedish powerhouses would be searching to capitalise on their home advantage, before having to travel to the French capital for next week’s arm wrestle.

HAC: Falk; Kosola, Rybrink, Luik, Wijk, Fossdalsá Sørensen, Curmark, Anvegard, Kafaji, Jusu Bah, Larisey

PSG: Kiedrzynek, Gaetino, De Almedia, Samoura, Karchaoui, Albert, Groenen, Le Guilly, Geyoro, Chawinga, Baltimore

All opened with tension, as both sides battled to open the scoresheet from the outset. It was the visitors who would first look promising on the advance, as a searching long ball toward Tabitha Chawinga was narrowly denied out and behind for a corner in the opening minutes. The corner arrived with no luck, as PSG failed to convert the entry.

Though it wouldn’t be long before the Parisians searched once more, as Sandy Baltimore carried possession into the final third. Despite her best efforts, Baltimore’s attempts were cleared away from danger, seeing BK Häcken with an opportunity on the counter attack. Anna Avengård tests herself inside of the area, though her strike was blocked by the Parisian defence.

PSG would be next to attempt a deadlock breaker, as Sakina Karchaoui’s floating cross expertly found Chawinga on the back post. Though the forward’s header was mistimed, as was her second shot-off as she swung the ball off target.

The opening twenty minutes saw the visitors awarded several opportunistic corners, though none arrived with any successful conversion.

The deadlock would be broken in the 23rd minute of play, as Karchaoui stepped up to take a free kick from an opportunistic position down the left side. Her floating ball arrived at the back post, as Jennifer Falk’s stretching save saw the ball fall to the feet of Eva Gaetino, who had no troubles converting off the post for the advantage.

Heading into the half-hour mark, the hosts were still searching for a shot on target as they failed to look threatening in the final third. Finding herself in possession near the edge of the area, Monica Allonia Jusu Bah tested her chances from distance, though her strike flew over the woodwork with minimal scare to Katarzyna Kiedrzynek.

BK Häcken would be given a golden opportunity as the 40 minute mark approached, as Anna Anvegård found herself on the end of a line-breaking ball inside of the area. A shove from Thiniba Samoura saw the main official pointing to the penalty spot, as the hosts searched to bring the first leg back to level terms.

Rosa Kafaji stepped up to the spot, though her penalty effort was blocked by a the flailing arms of Kiedrzynek between the posts. Despite her best efforts in forming a save, the Polish goalkeeper’s palm-off would grant Kafaji a second chance, as the Swedish forward headed home the equaliser into the bottom corner.

All was level heading into the main break, as both sides searched to find the advantage as the second half commenced.

It would be PSG who would control the tempo as proceedings were back underway, as the visitors eagerly searched for the advantage at Bravida Arena. It had looked like they’d gotten it, as Chawinga broke through the line and slotted home her strike in the 52nd minute. Though the striker’s run was called back for an offside, ruling out PSG’s temporary advantage.

Baltimore would be next to strike, as she worked well to evade her markers with precise footwork. Her ambitious strike was easily collected by Falk between the posts.

The visitors looked dangerous once again, this time on the counterattack. Amalie Vangsgaard found herself with space down the right side, before sending a searching ball floating into the danger zone. The BK Häcken last line failed the clearance, as the ball fell to the feet of Chawinga inside of the area. Making no mistake in sending the net rippling, Chawinga’s strike found PSG the advantage in the 73rd minute of play.

As the clock ran down, the hosts searched desperately for the equaliser. A blunder at the back saw Kafaji strike from distance, though stretching brilliance from Kiedrzynek saw her denied of the brace.

The visitors managed to hold onto the advantage as the clock ran down, as the final whistle blew to finalise the fixture at 1-2.

Paris Saint Germain now return to Paris with a one-goal aggregate advantage, as they prepare to host BK Häcken on Thursday the 28th of March at Parc des Princes.