With two Aussies and Matildas competing in the D1 Féminine, Beyond 90 will be keeping readers up to date with how our players, and the teams they’re playing in, are faring. At the midway point of the season, we look at three good and bad points, as well as our Aussies’ stats:
Ellie Carpenter (OL): 9 games (8 starts), 4 assists (6th in D1F). 595 minutes played
Mary Fowler (MHSC): 8 games (3 starts), 3 goals (17th in D1F), 1 assist. 355 minutes played
Olympique Lyonnais at the top:
After 11 games, Lyon leads the D1 Arkema, three points in front of rivals PSG. With 11 wins, 50 goals scored and 4 conceded, Ellie Carpenter’s side is on top form. Catarina Macario and new recruit Signe Bruun have scored seven and six goals respectively, while the impressive Selma Bacha has six assists and was named Player of the Month in both November and December. There were beautiful stories as we saw Ada Hegerberg and Griedge Mbock return, as well as great flashes from Janice Cayman when Carpenter was rested. This team seems to handle any situation put in front of them.
Paris FC’s journey:
We were not expecting to see Paris FC (without Gaëtane Thiney) as high as they are on the standings, but the team have shown a level of efficiency that was missing in previous years. We are probably seeing Clara Matéo’s best season in the top division as she is Paris FC’s top scorer and assister with six goals and five assists (her assist tally is just under 40% of the team’s total). Paris FC haven’t dropped points against mid-table teams and are now in a good position to earn a UEFA Champions League spot. Ranked third in both goals scored and goals conceded, they deserve to be in this position.
FC Fleury’s dynamic duo:
FC Fleury is the darling of the season so far, and their Polish duo has been a surprise. After some disappointing performances from big teams, Fleury are currently 4th in the championship, one point behind Paris FC. Fleury shocked the league by defeating Bordeaux and Montpellier, led by Léa Le Garrec, as well as the aforementioned Polish pair of Nikola Karczewska and Dominika Grabowska. Karczewska is the 4th best scorer in D1 Arkema with six goals and one assist, while Grabowska has four assists and two goals. More than 55% of Fleury’s goals have involved at least one of the two Poles.
Bordeaux’s bad wine:
Already one of the upsets of the season, Bordeaux – coached by experienced and successful Patrice Lair – has still not found the way. They were expected to fight for at least a UWCL spot, however that goal seems far away at the moment. At mid-season, Bordeaux stands 7th with 14 points (eight points behind Paris FC and nine away from the relegation zone). The team have dropped points against the likes of Reims, Fleury and Dijon, and have not won a game since November 12. The club had some issues with Lair but have decided to keep him – although Vanessa Gilles and Malia Berkely have returned to North America. Katja Snoejs has been involved in almost half of Bordeaux’s goals (four goals and five assists), and Melissa Gomes has made an impact (four goals), so will they do better in the second part of the season?
Soyaux’s critical situation:
France is not immune to player’s rights issues – ASJ Soyaux has been in an economic crisis for years. The last women’s-only team playing in the French top division stand just above the relegation zone with 11 points and could definitely crash if the team dropped to Division 2. Players have expressed their concern and former Melbourne Victory defender Samantha Johnson wrote a letter to denounce the situation within the club – in that letter Johnson stated that the club has no medical staff, and that club president Denis Bodi attempted to kick her out of the house she had been provided with for the season.
For more information, please see the following link: D1 Arkema, Be Better. From, Sam Johnson – Girls Soccer Network. It is worth reading to understand the dark side of French women’s football.
Montpellier highs and lows:
Even if the statistics are not that bad, Montpellier’s first half of the season has been a rollercoaster as the team has had crazy finishes and some disappointments. Currently 5th in D1 Arkema with 19 points, three points away from a European spot, La Paillade lost against Guingamp and Fleury at the beginning of the season. Results have improved since then but their gameplay still needs work – fortunately, Lena Petermann and Sarah Puntigam have been decisive on more than one occasion. Our Aussie Mary Fowler still does not have a safe place in the starting XI but she always seems to make an impact, so we can expect to see her playing more often when the league resumes in January.
