Impetus’ Jean-Pierre Thiesset summarizes the second round of the 2023-2024 D1 Arkema season with a focus on all the Australian internationals involved (3/10/23).
Above: Eugénie Le Sommer celebrates after scoring the winning goal for Lyon. Photo: Lyubomir Domozetski, Olympique Lyonnais.
Paris FC 3-1 Fleury
A quirk of the fixture list meant that Paris FC were the home side but the game took place at Fleury’s ground as Paris’ was not yet ready for football. Two minutes after the first goal, scored by Paris FC’s Mathilde Bourdieu, Julie Dufour almost added a second. Then, after a ball poorly dealt with by the Fleury defence, Gaëtane Thiney pushed the ball in the net on nineteen minutes to make it 2-0. Fleury reduced the gap in the 26th minute after Léa Le Garrec’s from the left-hand side which was guided in by Tianna Harris at the far post with her right foot.
Almost 70% of possession in the first half was for Paris, but Fleury reacted strongly at the end of the half and had a few opportunities of their own. Paris FC should have been awarded a penalty on 66 minutes when Julie Dufour looked to be fouled by Charlotte Fernandes with her knee in the penalty area, but strangely the referee judged that there was nothing wrong. After dominating the game since the start of second half, Paris FC scored added their third goal via Clara Matéo on 75 minutes following a pass from Julie Dufour. Scorers for Paris FC: Bourdieu (14’), Thiney (19’), Matéo (75). Scorers for Fleury: Harris (26’).
MATILDAS WATCH – Sarah Hunter (Paris FC) was not included in the line-up for this game.
Guingamp 0-0 Reims
The first half was edged by Reims, especially, at the beginning but, overall, the action was not very exciting, and there were few clear opportunities for either team. It seems that the departure of Melchie Dumornay from Reims to Lyon has left a gaping hole in Reims’ attack. There were a few more threatening moments in the second half with two shots hitting the woodwork and a couple of strong saves, but still a goal could not be scored.
Dijon 3-3 Lille
In an even game, the promoted team, Lille, earned a draw away from home. Wu Chengshu, of Dijon, played the last twenty minutes and scored twice. Scorers for Dijon: Abdu (31’), Chengshu (86’, 90’+2). Scorers for Lille: Boilesen (64’), Boucly (75’), Rabanne (90’+6 penalty).
Saint-Etienne 1-1 Montpellier
Montpellier had the edge in terms of possession and will be pleased with a draw away from home. Scorers for Saint-Etienne: Otu (14’). Scorers for Montpellier: Mpomé (69’).
Bordeaux 1-1 Le Havre
Despite an overwhelming advantage in terms of possession – more than 70% and five corners in the opening half an hour, Le Havre fell behind to a Bordeaux penalty on ten minutes. Bordeaux were indebted to a great performance from goalkeeper, Justine Lerond, who prevented Le Havre from scoring twice with two great saves in the first thirty minutes.
Once again, the adage “dominating is not winning” is confirmed. At least, at the 59th minute, Le Havre scored after a cross from Nadjma Ali Nadjim was met at the far post by Laurie Cance who put the ball in the net. This action was initiated by Inès Benyahia, midfielder, who is a new recruit of Le Havre on loan from Lyon to gain game time and entered at half time.In the second half, Lerond saved twice from Cance to ensure the points were shared. Scorers for Bordeaux: Lardez (10’ penalty). Scorers for Le Havre: Ali Nadjim (59’).
Paris Saint-Germain 0-1 Olympique Lyonnais
Marie-Antoinette Katoto was back in the Paris Saint-Germain matchday squad as a substitute after more than 14 months out; she was injured in July 2022 and eventually entered the game on 76 minutes. Gérard Prêcheur had quit his position of head coach of PSG this week and has been replaced by his son Jocelyn Prêcheur who was his assistant coach.
Both teams started with a lot of speed and pressure with the ball that went from one side to the other with opportunities for both teams in front of almost 16,000 spectators in the Parc des Princes stadium. The first, and only, goal of this game was for Lyon after 20 minutes from Eugénie Le Sommer. A free kick from Selma Bacha was met by Damaris Egurrola who sent the ball back to Le Sommer with a header. The second half started as the first one with a lot of great quality, speed, and pressure from both teams with the home side edging it with several opportunities to score. Both teams had cause to thank their goalkeepers who were both called into action multiple times – Lyon’s Christiane Endler made four superb saves to deny PSG an equaliser.
Particularly noteworthy was the great performance of Tabitha Chawinga, the 27 year old PSG forward who was dangerous on several opportunities. She brought more power and percussion to the team, and everyone is now waiting to see her partner with Katoto in the centre of PSG attack. We saw a very high-level game with a lot of drama between the obviously two best teams of D1 Arkema. Scorers for Lyon: Le Sommer (20’).
MATILDAS WATCH – Ellie Carpenter (Olympique Lyonnais) Carpenter was a starter on the right-hand side in the defence of Lyon as usual and put in another great performance with several crosses that could have been converted into goals and worked hard as part of the team to keep the opposition from scoring.
MATILDAS WATCH – Clare Hunt (Paris St. Germain) Hunt was still not in the squad for this game.
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