The View from France

Jean-Pierre Thiesset summarizes the 17^th round of 2022-2023 D1 Arkema season. Plus, an exclusive photo gallery of Olympique Lyonnais versus Guingamp game (28/3/23).

Above: Lyon and Guingamp players mixed together with a banner against racism (2The only one colour that of the jersey”). The banner was displayed before all D1 Arkema games in this round of fixtures. Photo: Jean-Pierre Thiesset for Impetus.

Le Havre 1-1 Fleury

A disappointing game with both teams wasting possession. Fleury looked like taking the win with a 66th-minute goal from Batcheba Louis but a mistake from goalkeeper Manon Heil allowed Sadie Sider-Echenberg to put the ball in the net to equalize on 86 minutes. Goals: Fleury – Batcheba Louis (66). Le Havre – Sadie Sider-Echenberg (86).

Bordeaux 0-0 Paris FC

Paris FC slightly dominated the statistics but missed the opportunity to move two points further ahead of Fleury in the race for third place. Paris FC’s Gaëtane Thiney had a penalty saved by Mylaine Chavas in the 63rd minute.

Dijon 1-2 Rodez

A game between two teams struggling to stay in D1 Arkema saw Rodez come from behind to win and move only one point behind Dijon and so keep a little bit of hope of survival. Goals: Dijon – Madeline Roth (13 penalty). Rodez – Alexandria Lamontagne (51), Amandine Pierre-Louis (59).

Reims 3-1 Soyaux

Reims returned to victory after three losses in a row and consolidated their sixth place in the standings. For Soyaux, this loss put them six points behind Dijon, who are tenth in the table, and almost certainly condemns them to relegation. Goals: Reims – Rachel Corboz (36), Melchie Dumornay (86), Thelma Eninger (90+2). Soyaux – Binta Diakité (40).

Montpellier 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain

On a very windy day in Montpellier, it was PSG who dominated much of the game but without scoring: Kadidiatou Diani missed a penalty on 39 minutes. Although the second half was more even than the first, both teams having serious opportunities to score, it was PSG who took the points. Goal: Paris Saint-Germain – Ramona Bachmann (40).

Olympique Lyonnais 6-0 Guingamp

Lyon needed a response after their Champions League loss to Chelsea and did not give Guingamp a chance. Lyon dominated this match from the beginning to the end despite resting several players (Ellie Carpenter, Delphine Cascarino, and Lindsey Horan) to prepare for the return fixture in London with others such as Wendie Renard, Damaris Egurrola, and Vicki Becho playing only the first half.

Signe Bruun took the opportunity to show her talent as a forward and to score twice in only 70 minutes on the field and there were noteworthy performances from Amel Majri in her first full match since her return after giving birth and Selma Bacha who swapped from defender to attacker at half time. Ada Hegerberg capped a remarkable day for Lyon by scoring one minute after coming onto the field – her first appearance in 209 days. Goals: Lyon – Signe Bruun (10, 29), Vicki Becho (41), Ada Hegerberg (71), Eugénie Le Sommer (80), Daniëlle Van De Donk (81).