Jean-Pierre Thiesset summarises the seventh round of the 2023-2024 D1 Arkema season with his MATILDAS WATCH and a short exclusive interview with Montpellier’s Marie Levasseur (14/11/23).
Above: Lyon’s Ellie Carpenter, white shirt, tussles with Montpellier’s Marie Levasseur. Photo: Jean-Pierre Thiesset for Impetus.
Olympique Lyonnais 5-0 Montpellier
Lyon continued their series of wins and are still unbeaten after a strange game that included three own-goals. In a match that kicked off at 9pm in cold weather (around 5c) in the first half and heavy rain in the second, it was not easy for either team to put on a good show.
It was obvious that Lyon were already thinking towards Sparta Prague and their upcoming UWCL fixture. However, they did the job and added five goals to their total. Noteworthy, that the connection between Selma Bacha with a corner for Wendie Renard to score with a header once more. Scorers for Lyon: Mpomé (14’ Own Goal), Diani (17’), Boureille (60’ Own Goal), Lakrar (76’ Own Goal), Renard (90’+5).
MATILDAS WATCH – Ellie Carpenter (Olympique Lyonnais) Carpenter was a starter but played only 60 minutes to preserve her for the important first UWCL group game coming on Tuesday.
At the end of the match, I spoke to Montpellier’s 26-year-old Canadian international Marie Levasseur. It was an impressive performance from the visitors’ star, despite the outcome, which she was frustrated with. “We really wanted to show that we could do better than what we did since the beginning of this season as a team but in front of Lyon it was too hard.”
Reflecting on her best position on the pitch, Levasseur said: “I can play on the left or on the right side of the defence even if I prefer a little bit the right as I am right-footed, especially when we need to go in front to help our attack. In this game, it was not an issue as we were dominated.” She concluded by saying: “I think that we did good things during this game. We progressed and will learn for the future.”
Fleury 2-1 Bordeaux
Both teams had opportunities to open the score in the first half but, even if Fleury dominated, it was Bordeaux that scored first with a counterattack finished off by Hawa Sangaré. Fleury continued to push hard and had several clear opportunities to get even by Léa Le Garrec who hit the post, and Marine Dafeur. At the beginning of the second half, Fleury equalised through Aïrine Fontaine. In second half, Fleury took charge, and after several opportunities, Le Garrec put the ball in the net to win the match with a superb free kick from 18 metres out. Scorers for Fleury: Fontaine (50’), Le Garrec (67’).
Scorer for Bordeaux: Sangaré (39’).
Reims 0-0 Le Havre
This game started quickly with an opportunity for Reims with a shot cleared by Laetitia Philippe, Le Havre goalkeeper, in the second minute. However, the first half was dominated by Le Havre with almost 70% of possession but without any goal. Inès Benyahia almost scored at the end of the match, but her shot was deflected for a corner by Kinga Szemik, Reims’ goalkeeper. Red card for Nadjma Ali Nadjim, Le Havre (70’).
Saint-Etienne 1-6 Paris FC
After 20 minutes, both teams were very efficient with only one shot on target each but both had scored their first goal on their first shot. Louna Ribadeira scored the first goal of Paris FC with a superb lob. Louise Fleury scored a hat-trick for Paris FC. Scorer for Saint-Etienne: Lamontagne (19’). Scorers for Paris FC: Ribadeira (14’), Matéo (35’), Fleury (44’, 67’, 70’), Dufour (84’).
MATILDAS WATCH – Sarah Hunter (Paris FC) Hunter was in the squad but did not play. We can hope that she was preserved for the first UWCL group game on Wednesday and that we will see her soon on the pitch.
Guingamp 4-3 Lille
A lot of goals on both sides in this game where the attacks were better than the defences. Scorers for Guingamp: Jézéquel (26’), Teintutier (30’, 56’), Donnary (68’). Scorers for Lille: Azzaro (17’ penalty), Paprzycki (20’), Rabanne (73’ penalty).
Dijon 2-5 Paris Saint-Germain
It was raining in Dijon and the pitch, which had a lot of water on it, did not help the players. PSG dominated from the off and enjoyed 80% possession across the game. Dijon had a few counterattacks but never had clear opportunities to score. But, on the hour, Dijon’s counterattacks worked, and they scored twice in fie minutes. Those two goals gave them hope that they may do something great in this game. Unfortunately for Dijon, PSG scored again five minutes later on a corner – killing all of Dijon’s hopes. Aspects of note: two assists passes (12’, 25’) for Marie-Antoinette Katoto who played only the first half to preserve her for the UWCL game this week, and a hat-trick for Tabitha Chawinga. Scorers for Dijon: Rylov (59’), Chengshu (65’). Scorers for Paris SG: Geyoro (12’), Chawinga (25’, 47’, 71’), Vansgaard (73’).
MATILDAS WATCH – Clare Hunt (Paris Saint-Germain) Matildas star Hunt was in the starting team. Hunt’s sturdy performance and sound game kept Dijon at bay when she was called on. Hunt even collected the captain’s armband on 80 minutes when Grace Geyoro was replaced. The Australian’s strength and experience brought a lot of security in defence.
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