Jean-Pierre Thiesset returns after the international break with all the news from the 10th round of the 2023-2024 D1 Arkema season with his MATILDAS WATCH and exclusive photos from pitchside at Olympique Lyonnais v Lille (12/12/23).
Above: Julie Swierot of Olympique Lyonnais (multicolour shirt), fighting for the ball. Photo: Jean-Pierre Thiesset for Impetus.
Olympique Lyonnais 5-0 Lille
Once again, Lyon boss Sonia Bompastor had to leave several key personnel on the bench or even out of the squad. Players such as Melchie Dumornay and Kadidiatou Diani were injured on international duty, as well as players who had just come back from their national team or who were well-used by their respective countries. This last group included Selma Bacha, Vicki Becho, Lindsey Horan, and Ellie Carpenter.
That gave an opportunity for young players from Lyon’s academy to to have some playing time. Wassa Sangaré, defender (17-years-old) who got 20 minutes, Julie Swierot, midfielder (17-years-old), who played 46 minutes, and Laureen Oillic, midfielder (18-years-old) who received 30 minutes of game time.
Even with those key players missing, Lyon largely dominated this game against a team that came up to D1 Arkema this season and for whom the gap to Lyon was just too large. The young players showed that they were ready to replace their elders. At the end of the second half, Swierot had a goal disallowed and Oillic hit the right-hand post. The only worrying point for Lyon was the injury of Eugénie Le Sommer at the end of the first half. Le Sommer was named player of the month in November.
Scorers for Lyon: Renard (17’), Hegerberg (28’ penalty), Egurrola (57’), Mbock (59’), Majri (90’+3).
MATILDAS WATCH – Ellie Carpenter (Olympique Lyonnais) During to being with her national team in Canada a few days before, and to preserve her for the UWCL game which will take place on Wednesday, Carpenter did not play any part in this game.
Saint-Etienne 2-1 Guingamp
An important game for Saint-Etienne who needed the win to begin their climb from the foot of the table and earned a vital win in the process. Saint-Etienne now have the same number of points as Guingamp (seven).
Scorers for Saint-Etienne: DePriest (33’), Caputo (61’). Scorer for Guingamp: Teinturier (57’).
Montpellier 1-4 Paris FC
Paris FC started the game strongly and quickly had several opportunities. Maria Petiteau, Montpellier’s goalkeeper, made several great saves. Then, after a poor clearance by Montpellier’s central defence, Gaétane Thiney opened the score with a great shot near the right post from eighteen metres out.
Paris FC continued to dominate the game in second half and won against a Montpellier side who couldn’t deny a team who are playing in the Champions League this season. Scorer for Montpellier: Mondésir (62’). Scorers for Paris FC: Thiney (12’), D. Corboz (24’), Bourdieu (41’), Ribadeira (87’).
MATILDAS WATCH – Sarah Hunter (Paris FC) After international duty in Canada with the Matildas, Sarah Hunter was not in the squad.
Reims 2-0 Fleury
It was a level game in the first half with no clear opportunities for either side as they were both content to watch and wait. Reims pushed a little bit more in second half and opened the score on the hour.
After their goal, Reims started to have more of the ball. In the 67th minute, three minutes after coming on, Noémie Mouchon scored the second goal for Reims after a lovely run starting from inside her own half. With this win, Reims move to fourth in the standings. Scorers for Reims: Gomes (61’ penalty), Mouchon (67’).
Dijon 1-0 Bordeaux
A game with no great action between two teams who struggle at the bottom of the standings. In the very last minute, Dijon scored the only goal of this game. Scorer for Dijon: Picard (90’+4). Red card: Seguin, Bordeaux (66’).
Le Havre 1-1 Paris Saint-Germain
PSG dominated the beginning of the match (70% of possession), but it was Inès Benyahia who opened the score for Le Havre on a counterattack and a long run from the centre of the field after the visitors’ Elisa De Almeida, gave the ball to Benyahia in midfield.
After Le Havre’s goal, PSG continued to dominate, but they were too inaccurate when it mattered to pull level. PSG continued their domination in the second half but the Le Havre players worked well together to continue to frustrate them. Jocelyn Prêcheur, PSG’s coach, replaced Amalie Vangsgaard with Marie-Antoinette Katoto and went to a 4-3-3 lineup on the hour. Unfortunately for Le Havre, PSG equalised at the very end of the game; however, it was a deserved result for PSG. PSG struggled a lot in the final third of the field in this game and will need to improve ahead of their Champions League tie this week. Scorer for Le Havre: Benyahia (19’). Scorer for Paris SG: Geyoro (90’+5).
MATILDAS WATCH – Clare Hunt (Paris Saint-Germain) Despite playing for The Matildas in Canada last week, Hunt was in the starting lineup in this game in the centre of the defence as part of a 3-5-2 formation.
Further exclusive photos from Olympique Lyonnais v Lille from Jean-Pierre Thiesset for Impetus
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