Trio of Canadians to feature in UEFA Women’s Champions League Semi-finals

For the first time ever, members of Canada Soccer’s Women’s
​National Team could feature in both UEFA Women’s Champions League Semi-finals,
​with Jordyn Huitema and Ashley Lawrence playing for Paris Saint-Germain FC and
​Jessie Fleming playing for Chelsea FC. The European Semi-finals kickoff this
​Sunday 25 April with Paris Saint-Germain FC facing FC Barcelona and Chelsea FC
​facing FC Bayern Munich.

The UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals feature two
​legs: this Sunday 25 April and next Sunday 2 May. The two winning teams then
​advance to the UEFA Women’s Champions League Final on 16 May. This Sunday,
​Huitema and Lawrence are in action with Paris Saint-Germain FC at 09.00 ET /
​06.00 PT while Fleming and Chelsea FC are in action at 11.00 ET / 08.00 PT.

Ashley Lawrence, Jordyn Huitema and Paris Saint-Germain
​clinched their Semi-finals ticket by eliminating the reigning champions
​Olympique Lyonnais (2-2 on aggregate, Paris qualified through away goals).
​Lawrence played 90 minutes in both Quarter-final matches, while Huitema
​featured as a substitute in the second leg.

Jessie Fleming and Chelsea FC won their two Quarter-final
​matches against Wolfsburg (5-1 on aggregate). Fleming, who is taken part in her
​first UEFA Women’s Champions League campaign, featured as a substitute in the
​second leg.

Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team player Kadeisha
​Buchanan is the first and only Canadian to have win a UEFA Women’s Champions
​League title, in fact winning it four years in a row since she debuted with
​Olympique Lyonnais in 2017. Lawrence is the only other Canadian to reach the
​Final back in 2016-17 (against Lyon). Lawrence also reached the Semifinals in
​2019-20 while Sophie Schmidt and FFC Frankfurt reached the Semifinals in
​2015-16.

This year, eight Canadians took part in the 2020-21 UEFA
​Women’s Champions League campaign with seven different European teams: Huitema
​and Lawrence with Paris Saint-Germain FC; Jessie Fleming with Chelsea FC; Buchanan
​with Olympique Lyonnais; Janine Beckie with Manchester City FC; Stephanie Labbé
​with Rosengard FC; Alyssa Lagonia with Servette FCCF; and Cloé Lacasse with
​Benfica.

Of note, Huitema and Beckie are the Canadian leaders for the
​most goals (6) in UEFA Women’s Champions League and Qualifying.