Jean-Pierre Thiesset summarises the eleventh round of the 2023-2024 D1 Arkema season and includes his MATILDAS WATCH of all the Australian internationals playing in the league (19/12/23).
Above: Ada Hegerberg, Lyon, blue shirt near the post, celebrating her eighth goal of this season. Photo: OL website.
Montpellier 2-1 Le Havre
For the first time this season, goalkeeper Katriina Talaslahti, started in the lineup of Le Havre. Talaslahti was transferred from Fleury to Le Havre this season and had not previously had playing time. Le Havre had the first opportunity on eight minutes through Inès Benyahia, but it was Léa Khelifi who opened the scoring for Montpellier on 13 minutes with an unstoppable header. There were two huge opportunities for Le Havre through Zoé Stiévenard on 32 and 45 minutes but still no goal came.
Talaslahti, who was very comfortable with her feet to clear the ball on several occasions, made a great save from Sonia Ouchene to prevent Montpellier increasing the lead on 50 minutes. The goalkeepers continued to steal the show as Maria Petiteau made two great saves for Montpellier on 58 and 70 minutes. Le Havre scored from an indirect freekick given following a Petiteau error. Salomé Elisor put the ball in the net after a very short pass from Inès Benyahia. Montpellier restarted strongly after Le Havre goal and Faustine Robert quickly restored their lead.
At the end of the match, Luna Gevitz was congratulated by all her teammates with a lot of tears because it was her last game with Montpellier. Gevitz, 29 years old, has decided to stop playing football to start to work as an architect and she has just graduated.
Scorers for Montpellier: Khelifi (13’), Robert (75’).
Scorer for Le Havre: Elisor (72’).
Fleury 1-3 Olympique Lyonnais
This week, Selma Bacha and Eugénie Le Sommer joined Delphine Cascarino, Melchie Dumornay and Vicki Becho on Lyon’s injury list, with Wendie Renard joining it during this game.
Lyon pushed and pressed a lot early on and Chloé N’gazi, Fleury’s goalkeeper, had a lot to do, especially on 13 minutes when she had to make a great save from a shot by Ada Hegerberg.
While they were largely on the back foot (around 70% of possession for Lyon), Fleury opened the scoring on 32 minutes on a counterattack finished by Ewelina Kamczyk.
Fleury then pushed harder and it took a quality save by Christiane Endler, Lyon goalkeeper, on 38 minutes to stop them adding a second.
Just before halftime, Lyon equalised with a Damaris Egurrola header from Amel Majri corner.
Lyon started the second half strongly and quickly took the lead through Hegerberg on 47 minutes.
N’Gazi had again a lot of work in second half to prevent Lyon scoring more goals and increasing their lead.
On a great pass from Kadidiatou Diani, Lindsey Horan showed all her skills and talent and scored the third goal for Lyon with a nutmeg of the Fleury goalkeeper. Noteworthy in this game: the performance of Mbock and of Diani who was involved in all three goals Lyon goals and voted player of the match.
Scorer for Fleury: Kamczyk (32’).
Scorers for Lyon: Egurrola (43’), Hegerberg (47’), Horan (80’).
MATILDAS WATCH – Ellie Carpenter (Olympique Lyonnais)
Ellie Carpenter was in the starting lineup for this game.
She gave another good performance, assisting her teammates in attack when needed. The TV commentator on called her “marathon” woman as she seemed to be everywhere running back and forth from defence to attack.
Guingamp 1-1 Dijon
In a game between two teams in the lower half of the standings, it was Dijon who opened the scoring near the end of first half.
Guingamp equalised at the beginning of the second half.
Scorer for Guingamp: Cambot (46’).
Scorer for Dijon: Picard (43’).
Lille 2-5 Reims
Reims had a penalty saved on 32 minutes but took the lead a minute later when Rachel Corboz finished off a very nice move. Noémie Mouchon, ex-Lille, scored their second on 56 minutes.
6 minutes later Oluwatosin Demehin, 21 years old, scored her first goal for Reims making it 3-0 for the visitors.
Lille reacted quickly and opened their account through Maite Boucly one minute later.
Rofiat Imuran scored the fourth goal for Reims only one minute after replacing Mouchon at 78 minutes.
On 86 minutes, Julie Rabanne converted a penalty to score a second goal for Lille and gave a little bit of hopes to her team.
Reims closed game out when Nathalie Chossenote scored their fifth goal at very end of the game.
With this large win Reims consolidated their status in fourth place.
Scorers for Lille: Boucly (63’), Rabanne (86’ penalty).
Scorers for Reims: Corboz R. (33’), Mouchon (56’), Demehin (62’), Imuran (79’), Chossenotte (90’+3).
Bordeaux 1-4 Saint-Etienne
In an important game for both teams struggling at the bottom of the standings, Bordeaux started strongly and opened the score on eight minutes through Hawa Sangaré.
Bordeaux missed a golden chance to pull further ahead before Cindy Caputo fired home to put Saint-Etienne level.
Above: Cindy Caputo, Saint-Etienne, green shirt (18). Photo: ASSE.fr website.
In the rest of first half the ball went back and forth, and both teams had opportunities but without any clear chances to score.
At the beginning of second half, Saint-Etienne took the lead as Faustine Bataillard headed home a corner.
The next goal didn’t come until the 74th minute – Phonetia Browne scoring after Alexandria Lamontagne had hit the crossbar.
After scoring, Browne made the decisive pass for Kess Elmore who scored the fourth goal for Saint-Etienne on 81 minutes.
Above: Saint-Etienne players celebrating their win with their fans. Photo: ASSE.fr website.
This was an important win away from home for Saint-Etienne who climb to eighth place in the table.
Scorer for Bordeaux: Sangaré (8’).
Scorers for Saint-Etienne: Caputo (13’), Bataillard (51’), Browne (74’), Elmore (81’).
Paris FC 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain
The last D1 Arkema game in 2023 saw a derby between the two clubs from Paris.
Gaétane Thiney put Paris FC ahead after four minutes – converting a penalty given for handball.
PSG slightly dominated after the goal of Paris FC but were disjointed and lacking in a cutting edge. They eventually equalised with a penalty of their own scored by Sandy Baltimore.
On 42 minutes, Louna Ribadeira saw one of her shots stopped by Constance Picaud, PSG’s goalkeeper. Two minutes later, Marie-Antoinette Katoto gave the lead to Paris SG on a counterattack.
Above: Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Paris SG (9) Blue shirt (on December 14). Photo: Courtesy of Pauline Figuet.
The second half was more compelling as key players came on for both teams, and there were plenty of chance, although no further goals. This was because of the noteworthy performances of both goalkeepers who both made several great saves.
Paris FC can have regrets because they had at least four clear opportunities to score which were not converted in goals.
PSG has now 22 points and even if they win their two outstanding games, they will still be five points behind leaders Lyon.
Scorers for Paris FC: Thiney (4’ penalty).
Scorers for Paris SG: Baltimore (36’ penalty), Katoto (44’).
MATILDAS WATCH – Sarah Hunter (Paris FC)
Sarah Hunter was in the starting lineup in this game and played 57 minutes before being replaced.
MATILDAS WATCH – Clare Hunt (Paris Saint-Germain)
Clare Hunt was in the squad but did not start. She entered at half time and played the second half.
impetusfootball.org 