The View From France

Jean-Pierre Thiesset summarizes the third round of 2023-2024 D1 Arkema season plus an exclusive photo gallery of Ellie Carpenter (10/10/23).

Above: Ellie Carpenter, number 12, celebrating Ada Hegerberg’s (number 14), goal. Photo: Jean-Pierre Thiesset for Impetus.

Saint-Etienne 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain

Saint-Etienne started this game well, but PSG quickly put their game in order and scored after five minutes. At the end of the first quarter, Saint-Etienne had two opportunities to score on the counter attack. The last quarter of the first half saw PSG take control but without scoring due to in part to the aggression of Saint-Etienne’s players, who received three yellow cards in the first half alone.

**Above:** Phoenetia Browne, Saint-Etienne, number 22, pink shirt in front. Photo: website Saint-Etienne, ASSE.fr.

Phoenetia Browne, Saint-Etienne forward, delivered a great performance in the first half causing many problems to the PSG defence and it would have surprised nobody if she scored, coming especially close near the end. Saint-Etienne were not outgunned at all in this match, and they were a good opposition to PSG, one of the contenders for the title. Scorers for Paris SG: Chawinga (5’).

MATILDAS WATCH – Clare Hunt (Paris Saint-Germain)

Once again, Hunt did not feature.

Le Havre 1-4 Paris FC

This game started quickly with Louna Ribadeira who scored for Paris FC inside five minutes. Le Havre nearly levelled a couple of minutes later but having earlier set up Ribadiera, Louise Fleury scored herself on 23 minutes. Chiamaka Nnadozie made a great save in from Nadjma Ali Nadjim on 34 minutes to keep out Le Havre, but they were rewarded a minute later with a goal from Deja Davis.

**Above:** Louise Fleury, Paris FC, celebrating one of her three goals. Photo: Paris FC website.

Fleury added her second goal within two minutes of the restart before Laëtitia Philippe, Le Havre’s goalkeeper made a series of strong saves to keep Paris FC from adding to their total. They did make it four when Fleury completed her hat-trick on 76 minutes meaning she had been involved in all four goals. Scorers for Le Havre: Davis (35’). Scorers for Paris FC: Ribadeira (4’), Fleury (23’, 47’, 76’).

MATILDAS WATCH – Sarah Hunter (Paris FC)

Hunter did not play.

Montpellier 3-1 Guingamp

Montpellier waited almost 60 minutes to start to score and closed the game in 10 minutes with 3 goals. Scorers for Montpellier: Robert (59’), Deslandes (62’), Mondésir (69’). Scorers for Guingamp: Léger (77’).

Lille 2-1 Fleury

Despite a large possession of Lille (close to 70%), it was Fleury who scored early, inside two minutes, via Léa Le Garrec.Lille was rewarded for their domination by getting even at 1-1 on fifty minutes by Julie Rabanne and Jessie Roux put them ahead passing with three minutes to go. Scorers for Lille: Rabanne (50’ penalty), Roux (87’). Scorers for Fleury: Le Garrec (2’). Red card for a second yellow to Mariam Diakité, Fleury (54’ and 86’).

Reims 1-0 Dijon

A straightforward win for Reims that puts them fourth in the standings of D1 Arkema just ahead of Paris Saint-Germain. Scorers for Reims: Gomes (71’).

Olympique Lyonnais 4-0 Bordeaux

An easy game for Lyon who largely dominated Bordeaux with more than 70% of possession, 21 shots (six on target). With a little bit more efficiency, the score could have been even higher. It is important to point out the very good performance of Justine Lerond, Bordeaux’s goalkeeper, 23 years old, who made several great saves.

**Above:** Justine Lerond, in goal, making a save on a shot by Melchie Dumornay, white shirt. Photo: Jean-Pierre Thiesset for *Impetus*.

Ada Hegerberg, Lyon’s, first Ballon d’Or winner in 2018, returned and scored on 77 minutes.

**Above:** Ada Hegerberg, white shirt, scores. **Photo:** Jean-Pierre Thiesset for *Impetus.*

With this win, Lyon joined Paris FC at the head of the D1 Arkema standings. They are the only unbeaten sides after three rounds of football. Scorers for Lyon: Dumornay (24’), Diani (26’), Hegerberg (77’), Renard (85’ penalty).

MATILDAS WATCH – Ellie Carpenter (Olympique Lyonnais)

Carpenter provided another great performance participating greatly in the clean sheet as the right-side defender. The Matildas star was also a key part of the attack, delivering several crosses.

Ellie Carpenter photo gallery

Exclusive photos from Jean-Pierre Thiesset from pitch side for Impetus. Ellie Carpenter is in the white shirt with the number 12.

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