Super Falcons star Jennifer Echegini made her Paris Saint-Germain debut in a UEFA Women’s Champions League second qualifying round, only to suffer a stinging defeat at the hands of her former club, Juventus.
Just two months after joining the French giants from Juventus, Echegini found herself facing her old team in what felt like a “payback” match for leaving the Italian side, Footballrover reports.
Unfortunately, it was far from the dream debut she would have hoped for.
Juventus dominated the game with over 72% possession, eight goal attempts, and four shots on target, compared to PSG’s lacklustre two attempts that barely troubled the opposition.
Echegini and her new team entered the match riding high on four consecutive preseason wins, including emphatic victories over Paris FC (4-0), Le Havre (4-0), Manchester City (1-0), and Reims Women (4-1).
But that momentum evaporated as they succumbed to a 3-1 defeat in the first leg.
Juventus started the party early, with Amalie Vangsgaard putting them ahead just seven minutes in.
PSG managed to equalise through Thiniba Samoura, but Sofia Cantore restored Juventus’ lead before halftime.
The final blow came after the restart when Swedish midfielder Hanna Bennison fired Juventus into a 3-1 lead, giving the Italian side a comfortable advantage heading into the second leg.
Echegini, who had been instrumental in Juventus’ success last season with 10 goals and an assist in 16 appearances, played a key role in securing their UEFA Women’s Champions League qualification.
She also earned a spot in the Team of the Year and bagged the “Best Young Player of the Season” award during her brief six-month stint in Turin.
Ironically, it was her former teammates who now handed her a painful defeat and potentially knocked PSG out of the competition.
However, there’s still hope for redemption.
PSG will host Juventus at the Paris Saint-Germain Training Centre for the second leg on Thursday, where Echegini and her new side will be looking to overturn the deficit.
Fin de la rencontre. (3-1)
Nos Parisiennes s'inclinent en Italie. Rendez-vous au Campus PSG pour aller chercher la qualification ! 👊#UWCL | #JUVPSG pic.twitter.com/JwkkWR4VlW
— PSG Féminines (@PSG_Feminines) September 18, 2024
Before that, they will have to face Montpellier Women in their French Division 1 opener on Sunday, aiming to bounce back from this disappointment.
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