Above: Canberra United’s new signing Wu Chengshu in action for China. Photo via: Canberra United.
Canberra United have signed Chinese international Wu Chengshu for the forthcoming A-League Women season – the first Chinese international to play for the club.
Wu, who has appeared for her country in twelve international matches winning the AFC Asian Cup in 2022, has been playing her club football in the Chinese Women’s Super League for Jiangsu Suning Ladies FC.
The signing of Wu, who scored against Japan in the 2022 AFC Asian Cup Semi-Final and played 45 minutes in the Final in midfield, a 3-2 win over the Korea Republic, is a landmark moment for Canberra United.
“We are delighted to announce the signing of Wu Chengshu for Canberra United Football Club,” CEO Chris Gardiner commented.
“Wu Chengshu joining the club will expand the club’s profile into mainland China where we hope to be able to convert some of the estimated 1.4 billion population into die-hard Canberra United supporters!
“The signature of a player of the calibre of Wu Chengshu reflects the club’s intentions for the new season and I am sure she will prove to be a real asset to the club and a particular favourite with our fans.”
“We are extremely excited to welcome Wu Chengshu to the club, and I am looking forward to working with her and helping her integrate into being an important part of our team for the new season,” Head Coach Njegosh Popovich said.
“She is a technically gifted footballer who reads the game really well and has a desire to score goals.
“Her profile is exactly what we are looking for at Canberra United and her experience of the international game will be a welcome addition to the young and talented squad we are assembling.”
Canberra United’s 2022/2023 Liberty A-League season begins on Saturday 19 November with a home match against Perth Glory at McKellar Park.
Above: Ella Toone, who signed a new contract at Manchester United today – a major boost for Marc Skinner’s side. Photo: Express & Star.
Manchester United today announced that Ella Toone has signed a contract extension, keeping her with the club until the end of the 2025/26 season.
Toone joined United in 2018 as part of the club’s inaugural FA Women’s Championship winning side, and has gone on to become The Red Devils’ all-time leading goal scorer with 43 goals and was the first United woman to make more than a hundred appearances for the club – she now stands at 110 games played.
On the international stage, the midfielder was crowned European Champion with the Lionesses this summer, scoring the opening goal in the team’s 2-1 final victory over Germany at Wembley in front of 90,000 fans.
On extending her deal, Toone said: “I’m delighted to sign a new contract at Manchester United. The club’s ambitions really match mine and there’s nowhere better for me to learn. To play for my childhood club I support is really special and I’ll never get tired of pulling on the red shirt. To now be able to do that for even longer is a proud moment for me and my family.”
“Ella epitomises everything Manchester United stands for, and her new long-term contract reflects the club’s ambition of continued growth and success, with a role model of her quality at the centre.”
Polly Bancroft, Head of women’s football, Manchester United.
Manchester United head coach Marc Skinner was ecstatic to secure one of his most important players on a long-term deal: “Ella’s long-term commitment to Manchester United is yet more proof of the club’s continued investment in the future success of this team. Ella has always been and remains a key member of our squad on and off the field, and we are delighted she will continue to wear our famous colours with pride for years to come.”
With their A-League Women debut fast approaching, things are taking shape at Western United. For this week’s Midweek Dub feature, the club’s inaugural head coach Mark Torcaso talks to Impetus’Kieran Yap about their first pre-season(9/11/22).
Above: Members of Western United’s inaugural team. Image supplied by: Western United.
When Western United’s participation in this season’s A-League Women was first announced, there was excitement. But that was as much about the implications for an extended season, and the opportunities for Victorian players. With the squad fully assembled, that enthusiasm has now extended to their on- field potential.
“It’s been exciting,” is how head coach Mark Torcaso describes the preparations. “It’s been obviously very different for a lot of people including myself. “Being exposed to full time training environments is challenging, but it’s definitely very exciting.
“The last couple of days we’ve worked out how it all looks in regard to settling ourselves in and understanding the demands of full-time professional environment.”
Torcaso has taken the reigns following several successful seasons in charge of Calder United in Victoria’s NPLW. The 2022 season resulted in three trophies, and they enjoyed almost total dominance over the competition. It was an incredible achievement given that Calder were without some big-name stars of the past and relied heavily on their own academies.
By 2021, Calder had formed an official link with Western United. It helped lay the foundations for this inaugural topflight season. Western United have announced some of the biggest signings in the league, but the core of their team is based on Calder United’s champion side.
It is a different model to most new clubs, who have either relied on a number of big names like Melbourne City did or on their academies like Western United has and Central Coast likely will.
As coach of both sides, it is a process that Torcaso has found helpful. An official link between NPLW and A-League clubs is one he thinks could work for other teams.
“We won’t know that until the end of the year, but I think from what I see it’s a genuine pathway. It’s there for the players of the northwest to have genuine opportunities and basically create one vision and one club philosophy.”
Above: Western United coach Mark Torcaso. Image courtesy of Western United F.C.
Torcaso is confident in the season’s preparation. He says that the former NPL stars have had to adjust to the amount of training, but this was planned for.
“We tried to replicate that as best we could at Calder over the last couple of seasons in trying to give them more training than what they normally would so when this transition happened it would be fairly simple.
“Adjusting to that has been some of the little hurdles or challenges. Just the intensity of the sessions and the quality of the resources that we have.
“There are also positives in that, getting to feel what that professional environment is actually about is very important for the players.”
Headlining the players signed from Calder United was Alana Cerne. The classy midfielder was crucial to the side’s success. She dominated the Nike FC Cup Final and controlled the midfield in most rounds. The playmaker was the first player Western United announced.
A brilliant hit from Alana Cerne to open the scoring in yesterday's NPLW Victoria Grand Final🔥 pic.twitter.com/BuOjTxn9wy
“Cerne’s been with Calder since she was 15 or 16,” says Torcaso of one of the clubs standout homegrown talents.
“She’s somebody that lives in the northwest, somebody that’s missed out on opportunities in the past that probably should have gotten opportunities. She’s going to be a fantastic player.”
Since Cerne, some impressive additions have been made to the squad, Hillary Beall was signed on loan from Racing Louisville in the NWSL. The young goalkeeper made some impressive saves in a pre-season friendly against Melbourne Victory. She was decisive in a 1-0 win.
Stacy Papadopoulos looks a likely star of the competition. The fleet-footed winger is a damaging player that also seems destined for highlights reels.
Two big-name signings were made that served as statements by the club that they are planning on making an impact. Matilda’s star Chloe Logarzo, and World Cup Winner from the USA, Jess McDonald.
“I worked with Jess at Victory in 2012 when she was there,” says Torcaso. “That relationship was something that was built then. It’s surprising to the football world, but for us it was a connection that I had with her that created that opportunity for her to come out here.
“As a whole it’s just about setting the tone, making sure we are as ready as possible and having players like Chloe and Jess and other players with a little bit of overseas experience, allows us to be competitive and not just a team that makes up numbers.
“We want to be a team that can be ready. It can help some of the players that have come into this team from the NPL clubs like Calder or FV Emerging. It allows them to develop by having really good quality people around them.”
Logarzo will add significant experience to the team. She has won two W-League Championships with Sydney FC, and is a player that will guarantee interest in the club. After suffering a knee injury in 2021 while with The Matildas, her game time has been minimal. How she performs at Western United could shape Australia’s World Cup chances.
Torcaso is clearly happy to have players with enviable resume’s on his squad, but says that the will not be expected to carry the team. They will have the same expectations as the other players.
“She’s like any other player,” he says of Logarzo. “It doesn’t matter if you’re Chloe of Jess McDonald or (Calder captain) Aleks Sinclair, in the end you’re a player that trains well and plays well and keeps your spot.
“The name (recognition) is an important thing, but its more about making sure you get the right balance and perform or challenge every single week.”
It is a standard that the individual players are accustomed to. As a club, it should prepare Western United to adapt quickly to the A-League Women.
In the pre-season game against Melbourne Victory last weekend, both sides were missing players, but Western United were able to play their own game style and had the better of the attacking chances toward the end of each half.
Above: Mark Torcaso. Image courtesy of Western United F.C
Young Matilda Khali Johnson was dangerous in the first half, while Hannah Keane scored a 90th minute winner to end the second.
Up against the reigning champions, Western United did not look out of place to the delight of their vocal and organized support.
Western United’s first season will be significant for a number of reasons, it is the result of long term planning, and the club has a clear purpose and mission to provide opportunities for women’s player in Western and regional Victoria. Off the field, the pieces are in place for an exciting future.
On the field, they look ready for an impressive debut season.
Above: Beth Jones celebrating a goal for Pride Park in a previous match. Photo: Shaun Hardwick.
Pride Park returned to Derbyshire Ladies League action on Sunday with a trip to Stanton Ilkeston. Just as the game was getting underway, heavy rain started and the pitch was soon both slick on the surface and heavy underfoot.
Despite the conditions Pride made a strong start, with Eliot Sayavong testing the home keeper, before – twice in quick succession – the Ilkeston shotstopper could only parry Beth Jones’ shots into the path of Summer Evans who converted from close range – but both times Evans had strayed just offside. Nevertheless, it seemed like a goal was coming and it was duly delivered by Tash Allderidge, the skipper scoring direct from a free-kick from the edge of the area with 16 minutes played.
Pride continued to dominate and the only puzzle is how they didn’t add to the score, particularly just after twenty minutes as Jones was through one-on-one on with the keeper who blocked the defender-cum-striker’s effort, the ball fell to Hannah Kwiatek – her shot was blocked on the line, then Evans picked up the rebound, rounded the keeper, but saw her shot cleared off the line.
Exquisite through balls by Annie Laight and Kwiatek put Jones and Evans respectively through, but the keeper held Jones’ shot and tipped Evans’ effort round the post. The Pride continued to pepper the Stanton goal with shots, with Kwiatek and Evans drawing saves out of the keeper, and as the first half ended Jones lifted a shot over the Stanton number one only to see it come back off the crossbar.
Above: Tash Allderidge, who scored for Pride Park on Sunday, seen here in action in a recent game against Shirebrook. Photo: Shaun Hardwick.
The first half had been dominated by Pride, only to be denied by Stanton’s keeper who was in outstanding form – but Pride picked up where they left off and only three minutes into the second half the home custodian could do nothing about Jones’ cannon of a shot from outside the area to make it 2-0.
Five minutes later Allderidge added a third from the spot after Ella Kew had been brought down, and Jones added a fourth as the hour came up, through one-on-one and slotted the ball wide of the keeper, before completing her hat-trick (her second in successive games) after being played in by a superb pass by Rachel Weaver.
Jones could have had another hat-trick in the second half, prodding one chance just wide, denied at point-blank range by another superb save by the keeper after good work down the left by Kew who shot just wide after being put through by Sayavong.
Pride will be pleased to get a first clean sheet of the season, which had appeared momentarily under threat a couple of times – a moment of indecisiveness at the back giving Stanton a shooting opportunity but it was put wide, and another strike from close range hit wide of the goal, but otherwise, the defence wasn’t troubled, although Stanton battled to the end. Overall, it was a commanding performance that was good to watch and a well-deserved three points.
Pride return to Cup action next week, with the First Round of the Derbyshire Challenge Cup against Amber Valley at Moorways (1.30pm).
With just over a week to go until the 2022/23 A-League Women season gets underway, we hear of new signings at both Canberra United and Newcastle Jets (9/11/22).
Above: Madison McComarsky (28) in action for Wayland Baptist University. Photo: Wayland Baptist University.
Canberra United today reported the addition of defender Madison McComasky to their A-League Women squad.
McComasky brings the total of players signed to 21 as kick-off to the brand-new campaign edges ever closer.
McComasky gets her first chance to impress in the A-League after joining United for the new campaign having impressed in the New South Wales NPL for the Macarthur Rams.
Speaking about his newest recruit, Canberra United head coach Njegosh Popovich said: “She is an exciting prospect and I believe that the professionalism within our club will help her to become a very competitive centre back for us this season.
“I first noticed Maddison playing for Macarthur and she was a standout In both the semi-final and final of the NPL NSW competition. Her reading of the game is very good, her positioning and awareness are a standout of her game. I am looking forward to working with Madison during the season.”
McComasky, who can play in both defence or midfield, has spent most of her formative footballing years in the United States Collegiate system starting with Northeast Texas Community College and then Wayland Baptist University, before starring for the UIW Cardinals in San Antonio, Texas.
One of five siblings, McComasky impressed Popovich and after a trial period at the club has secured a spot in the squad for the upcoming season.
Canberra United’s 2022/2023 Liberty A-League season begins on Saturday 19th November with a home match against Perth Glory at McKellar Park.
Graphic: Newcastle Jets.
Newcastle Jets today announced the signing of Josie Allan on a scholarship deal. Allan, who plays as an attacker, joins the senior side after coming through the club’s Academy.
Head coach Ash Wilson is pleased to have Allan on board for the coming season, saying: “Josie is an exciting academy product who we believe has a clear future pathway aligned to our A-League club and the potential for success beyond that. She is only 16 but has a great attitude, is quick, dynamic, and has spark in the way she plays.
“Regardless of the situation, she is in, Josie plays with confidence beyond her years and backs herself. We see the potential, and while there is still a lot of growth and learning for Josie as a player and athlete, it is important for us to support her and challenge her so that she can reach that potential as well as contribute positively to the future of our club and team.”
Allan is looking forward to the season ahead of further developing her game at the Newcastle Jets. The teenager said: “I’m very excited to be joining the team this season after coming through the Jets Academy.
“The team and the coaching staff have been great to me so far in helping me ease into the team environment. I’m looking forward to taking my game to the next level this season and it will be amazing to make my debut for the club.”
Australia and Arsenal defender Steph Catleyspoke to the media in Melbourne todayahead of this weekend’s game with Sweden. Impetus’ Ben Gilby reports (9/11/22).
Above: Steph Catley speaking to the media today at the Matildas training camp in Melbourne. Image: Football Australia.
Steph Catley is, at the present time, the perfect example of a player being able to be flexible to maintain her team’s defensive structure. The Arsenal star is looking to use these experiences into making her an even stronger performer on the international stage.
Catley outlined how the Matildas are looking to bring the positives from their last matches with South Africa and Denmark into this camp, despite there being some different faces in the squad.
“I’m happy to play wherever I’m put. I’ve been in different places for Arsenal lately, but happy to just be out there. Last camp we got the backline working well together. We’re really focusing in on it. We always want to get clean sheets. We’ve had players in and out due to injuries, so it’s about incorporating them back into the squad. It’s up to us as a team to make sure they are on the same page, and everyone being open and flexible.
“The last camp saw us build some momentum and get some wins, and we want to build on that. If we can play some good quality football and get some consistent performances we’ll be in a good place.”
With the Matildas defender newly arrived back in Australia, Catley revealed the impact the travelling is having on her, but reassured the gathered media it’s something she is used to now.
“It’s a typical day one for me, I’ve been up since 4am and I’m pretty tired, but the body’s in good shape, and I’m looking forward to be playing with the team this weekend.”
Sweden have been regular opponents for Australia under Tony Gustavsson, having faced them in friendlies and the Olympics. With these experiences, plus the Matildas Swedish head coach’s knowledge of their opposition, Catley was certain that her and her team mates will be well prepared.
“We’re looking at lots of footage of Sweden, focusing on the game plan and looking at how we can best stop them. They are a dynamic team with a lot of good players, particularly in the final third. We’ve got an in-depth analysis of them.”
Above: Millwall press forward. Photo: Keith Gillard via Millwall Lionesses.
Jack Wheeler was delighted as Millwall Lionesses made it ten wins in a row with a 4-0 victory over Richmond Park in the second round of the League Cup on Sunday afternoon.
The Lionesses sit top of the London & South East Regional Women’s League as well through to the next rounds of the FA Cup, League Cup, and Kent Cup so far this season.
The Lionesses started strong and took the lead just before the half-hour mark when Sharna Giordani pounced on a mistake in the visitors backline to calmly slot past the keeper.
It was two shortly after as Jade Keogh’s excellent ball over the top was met by Lucy Jellett who fired home from just inside the area.
It took until twenty minutes remaining for Millwall to add another but it came when Milly Penfold set up Kaydence Kabadaki who’s strike flew into the corner of the net.
Milly Penfold went from provider to goalscorer when with minutes remaining she picked up the ball, went on a super run, and produced a tidy finish to put the icing on the cake for The Lionesses.
Above: Millwall comfortable on the ball as they extended their superb start to the season. Photo: Keith Gillard via Millwall Lionesses.
Wheeler said: “Really good and really pleased with the performance today. Another clean sheet, four different goal-scorers, two in each half so really pleased to get through to the next round.
“We’re really pleased with how we played because it was quite a young, fit, energetic and physical team, I was actually quite impressed with how Richmond Park played today.
“I was pleased with how it went because they caused us a few issues at times but we dealt with it accordingly and managed to see the game out. We’re really pleased with the momentum and run we’re on at the minute and we just hope we can continue that run.
“We’ve obviously got a challenging game next week (against FAWNL Southern Premier side Gillingham in the FA Cup First Round) and hopefully we can continue doing that. We’ve really focused on that [clean sheets] in training in recent weeks. We know that our firepower is very dangerous up front, it’s just making sure that we’re keeping the goals out at the other end. If we can do that then we will be very strong.”
He added: “It’s another game, I don’t want to get caught up in to much of the emotion of what it is but it’s the first round of the FA Cup and that’s obviously really meaningful for us in terms of finances as well as good exposure for the club.
“To play against a tier three team for someone like us at the moment is really good so it will be a nice challenge for the girls, we’re having a nice run at the minute where we’re scoring lots of goals.
“It would be nice to challenge ourselves against a lot of our players that I used to know.”
Above: Racing Louisville striker Emina Ekic has come in on loan to Melbourne City. Photo: Spectrum News.
Melbourne City announced today that American attacker Emina Ekic will join City on loan until mid-February.
Ekic comes to Melbourne from Racing Louisville FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and will be with City up until the team’s Round 14 fixture against Western United on 11th February 2023.
She has currently made 34 appearances and scored three goals for Racing Louisville since completing her time at college with Louisville Cardinals, where she was named ACC Offensive Player of the Year in 2020.
She becomes the 20th confirmed member of Rado Vidosic’s squad ahead of the City’s season opener away to Wellington Phoenix on November 20th.
Vidosic said he was pleased to have Ekic as part of his playing group for the new season.
“We’re really excited to bring Emina to the club and think she’ll be able to provide us with something different and another attacking option going forward. She’s an exciting player with a lot of potential and we’re looking forward to seeing the impact she can have for us on the pitch this season.”
Ekic said she had been welcomed warmly and was enjoying her time in Melbourne so far after arriving late last week.
“My teammates have been great which has really helped me settle in and made the transition easy,” Ekic said.
“Melbourne City is a really successful club and I love the team’s style of play so I’m really excited about the move. I think it’s going to be good for me both on and off the pitch,” Ekic said, “It’s great for me to be able to get out of my comfort zone and see a new part of the world.”
Impetus’ Darrell Allen provides his weekly round-up of all the women’s football actionin Norfolk (8/11/22).
Above: The game at College Meadow between Beccles Town and Thetford Town was played in atrocious conditions. Kamile Omeleviciute (left) on the ball for Thetford. Photo: Hardy Scott Photos.
Main Match of the Week
Beccles Town 1-5 Thetford Town
Thetford Town continued their fine form with a convincing win at Beccles Town in the Norfolk Women and Girls League Division One. A brace each from Kamile Omeleviciute and Chelsea Page plus a goal from Rachel Lynch saw Thetford Town go second in the table.
The game at College Meadow, the only Division One fixture and one of very few involving Norfolk teams to survive the inclement weather was held due to applaudable proactiveness from Beccles by switching from their usual grass pitch to their 3G facility across the road. Thetford Town should also be applauded for accommodating a later kick-off at 3.30pm.
It was Beccles who started brightest on the narrower-than-normal 3G surface and they should have had a penalty early on only for referee Ryan Starkey to wave loud appeals away to the relief of Thetford Town.
Despite that decision, both teams appreciated and enjoyed having Starkey in the middle for this tier seven fixture. Starkey himself is used to refereeing in tier three so this was seen as a privilege for both clubs to be in his presence for this fixture. Starkey is an excellent communicator and offered great insight and explanations to both teams and the watching supporters as well and offered praise to both teams for their superb attitude to the afternoon.
It didn’t take long for Thetford to get into their stride and Rachel Lynch was first to force a save out of Gemma Hamilton in the Beccles goal.
Lynch, the ever reliable Town centre back was an attacking threat all afternoon and was heavily involved in the opening goal as Lynch and Chelsea Page linked up well to find Kamile Omeleviciute who blasted home to give Thetford the lead.
Above: Kamile Omelevicuite (claret shirt) scored a brace for Thetford Town at Beccles. Photo: Hardy Scott Photos.
From here, it was never again a contest. Thetford manager David Skipp had the luxury of having his three most potent attackers available to him for this fixture with Hannah Rogers, Rebecca White, and Chelsea Page all playing significant parts in this game.
As the rain lashed down and the wind got stronger, both teams were looking forward to a break from the elements at halftime and Chelsea Page made life easier for Thetford with a superb chip over Hamilton to double the visitors’ lead before the break.
Above: Chelsea Page scored twice and was Player of the Match for Thetford Town at Beccles. Photo: Hardy Scott Photos.
Conditions eased for the second half and Thetford continued in the same bright attacking light. It took Omeleviciute all of six minutes after the re-start to double her tally and in the process increase Thetford’s lead to three.
The visitors had the game won but were hungry for more as Skipp changed the team’s formation to 4-3-3 allowing Rogers, White, and Page all to go for goals in the remainder of the game.
Thetford peppered the Beccles goal as Rogers missed an easy header which would have further increased the lead.
When Thetford did finally make it four, it was down to Lynch to provide the afternoon’s most memorable moment when she finished a free kick from 35 or more yards out with pinpoint accuracy into the top corner.
Above: Thetford Town’s Rachel Lynch who scored a wonderful fourth from 35 yards out. Photo: Hardy Scott Photos.
Thetford were disappointed to lose their clean sheet late on when Megan Sergeant scored for Beccles, but Page had time to get her second goal and make it a five-star victory for Thetford.
This was a stunning win for David Skipp and his team to continue their fine run of confidence and momentum. Second in the league with 10 points from a possible 15 is proof of the hard work going into this season from everyone on and off the pitch at Thetford Town.
With back-to-back home fixtures against Bungay Town and Caister up next, the hope will be this fine run can continue.
Wroxham suffered a heavy defeat losing 9-0 to newly promoted AFC Sudbury. Alex Penny scored four goals, Kate Edwards got a hat-trick with the remaining goals coming from Evie Creaton and Tyeonae Smith.
Norfolk Women and Girls League Division Two:
Thorpe St. Andrew were the days’ headline writers with a stunning 4-0 victory over Freethorpe. Abi Simmons scored a brace with Rebecca Sutton and Poppy Le-Beau also getting on the scoresheet to make it a memorable day for Tony Allen and his team.
In the day’s other game, Bulldogs recorded a fine 1-0 home win over Horsford thanks to a goal from Lauren Roberts.
Above: Match action from Thorpe St Andrew (sky blue)’s 4-0 win over Freethorpe. Photo: Thorpe St Andrew FC
Jean-Pierre Thiessetsummarizes the 7th round of 2022-2023 D1 Arkema season (8/11/22).
Above: Gaëtane Thiney scores Paris FC’s equaliser at home to Bordeaux nine minutes from time. Photo: Paris FC.
What a very surprising and strange set of results there were in the seventh round of the competition. Only two games ended in wins – these went the way of Reims and Fleury.
Supposedly the two best teams of D1 Arkema were not able to win. Paris Saint-Germain at home scored twice but let Montpellier leave with a point. Olympique Lyonnais’s poor run of form continued as they failed to find the net against bottom-of-the-table Guingamp – a team who have not won all season.
These results are especially very worrisome for Lyon after finding it so hard to break through against Fleury in a game where a draw would have been fairer. Furthermore, if we remember their results in UWCL, a terrible loss 5-1 at home to Arsenal and a draw away from home makes the defending champions’ form a real concern. They will hope to find solutions during the international break.
Bordeaux obtained a 1-1 draw away from home against Paris FC. Bordeaux provided a very serious threat and put a lot of pressure on Paris FC even if Paris FC dominated this game. Several game facts which need to be pointed out: Chiamaka Nnadozie, Paris FC goalkeeper, hurt her left thumb after 15 minutes of play and was replaced at halftime by Camille Pecharman. The referee received a blow to her nose from the ball at the 35th minute and was replaced in the second half because she suffered a broken nose. The game restarted 15 minutes late after the break as a consequence. Goal for Paris FC from Gaëtane Thiney (81). Goal for Bordeaux from Melissa Gomes (61).
Above: Rodez captain Laurie Cance. Photo: Rodez RAF web site.
Dijon earned a 1-1 draw at Rodez. This was an enjoyable game between two teams that tried to play their game despite the heavy rain and wind, with the consequence that the goalkeepers were able to show their talent. Particularly impressive in this match were Laurie Cance, Rodez’s captain, and Lisa Lichtfus, Dijon’s Belgian international goalkeeper.
Above: Reims celebrate a goal. Photo: Reims website.
Reims won away from home 4-1 against Soyaux. There was no real contest in this game which Reims dominated. With this win, Reims are now fifth, only a point behind Montpellier ahead of them. Melchie Dumornay was impressive, scoring two goals and adding a decisive pass, as was Kessya Busy with contributed a goal and decisive pass. Goals for Reims from Melchie Dumornay (17, 82), Kessya Busy (56), Sonia Ouchene (90). Goal for Soyaux from Laura Condon (48).
Above: Marie Levasseur, Fleury defender, during the game against Lyon last week. Photo: Jean-Pierre Thiesset for Impetus.
Fleury won 3-0 at home to Le Havre. Fleury dominated this game, and their victory is very well deserved. Fleury stopped their run of two straight defeats, and in doing so ended Le Havre’s record of two wins in a row. As usual, Fleury defender Marie Levasseur provided a good performance. Goals for Fleury from Julie Piga (45+2), Marine Dafeur (47 penalty), Ode Fulutudilu (57).
Above: Paris St. Germain’s former Manchester United player, Jackie Groenen celebrates after scoring against Montpellier. Photo: PSG Feminines.
Paris Saint-Germain could do no better than a draw 2-2 at home against Montpellier. Kheira Hamraoui started again the game for Paris SG but was replaced after 15 minutes due to injury. Montpellier scored first after a hesitant clearance by PSG keeper Sarah Bouhaddi; the ball was gathered by Montpellier midfielders and Nérilia Mondésir received the ball from Dominika Slorvankova to scored. Paris SG should be happy not to have lost this game as there could have been two penalties for Montpellier, the first as a result of Léa Khelifi after 41 minutes and the other by Melchie Dumornay after 72 minutes. Sarah Bouhaddi did have the best performance, and she may have done partly culpable for the second goal of Montpellier for which she was lobbed. Goals for Paris SG from Sandy Baltimore (32), Jackie Groenen (49). Goals for Montpellier from Nérilia Mondésir (24), Celeste Boureille (87).
Above: Vicki Becho in action for Olympique Lyonnais against Rodez on October 1st. Photo: Jean-Pierre Thiesset for Impetus.
Olympique Lyonnais was again not able to score and came back from bottom side Guingamp with only a 0-0 draw - the first time all season that Guingamp have avoided defeat. Lyon are struggling to make progress since the beginning of this season. The European Champions' defence is still fragile in the face of counterattacks and their attack lacks accuracy and efficiency. Whilst a few key players are missing due to injury, this does not explain everything, and fans are concerned. On the positive side, two young players of 19 years old, Vicki Becho and Inès Benyahia, who started the game shown that they are ready even if they still need to progress. On the bad side, Lyon forwards could only place eight of their 20 shots on target.
Guingamp's Cindy Perrault produced a good performance to help her team to obtain a clean sheet. Luckily for Lyon, Paris SG did not win either and the European Champions are still two points clear at the top.
impetusfootball.org 