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.
In important confrontations, both Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais were held in check. PSG and Montpellier HSC played a scoreless draw while OL couldn’t do better than a 1-1 stalemate against AS Saint-Etienne in the local derby.
Montpellier surprised PSG with audacious play and not merely being a defensive wall, but the Parisians had more opportunities. Clarisse Le Bihan played her 100th game in the D1 Arkema with MHSC and Iva Landeka her 50th game with the club. Our Aussie Mary Fowler started before being replaced by the speedy Nérila Mondésir at halftime.
During the second half, Montpellier played more defensively to save an important draw. PSG’s head coach, Didier Ollé-Nicole analysed: “It was a good team. We knew it. We saw it last week, they had recently put Lyon in difficulty. They pushed us to our limits in the French Cup, last week. And then, they came to press us high at first, they foiled our plans. Then once they couldn’t do it anymore, when we loosened the grip a little, they curled up well, they defended well. They had a good match to come and get a 0-0. We missed a bit of everything. It was not a great day. We have not collectively succeeded in establishing our game.” Nevertheless, with this draw PSG continues their streak of not conceding at home, and didn’t lose that much as their rivals OL could only earn a point.
On the contrary to PSG, OL was the grand favorite of their game against the promoted AS Saint-Etienne in one of the most exciting derbies in France (especially men’s football). Ellie Carpenter played the entire game. While we could have expected a large score, Lyon delivered one of their worst offensive performances in the D1 Arkema while creating a lot of chances. One of the local websites ran the headline “ASSE-OL women: Lyon does anything against the red lantern (1-1).” Saint-Etienne goalkeeper Emily Burns was on fire and they even opened the scoring on 73 minutes thanks to Manon Uffren.
https://twitter.com/ASSEFeminines/status/1502956350606827521?s=20&t=htyyZT9VhEwcou6jeSGpqA
Five minutes later and under pressure, Lyon equalised thanks to Melvine Malard‘s header. In the postgame interview, OL’s head coach Sonia Bompastor insisted: “A lot of disappointment and frustration. We created many chances. I said before the game that we had to be efficient in the last 30 metres. It’s a game that should have been much easier.” Saint-Etienne has earned their first point against OL since the first derby on October 10, 2009. Scenes.
⚽️ Superbe communion entre les joueuses et le public 💚💚💚#Derby #ASSEOL pic.twitter.com/Pb9BgR4oZY
— France Bleu Saint-Étienne Loire (@bleustetienne) March 12, 2022
Other games saw Paris FC taking the best against direct rivals FC Fleury with a 3-1 home win over the team that eliminated them from the French Cup last week. The visitors opened the scoring early thanks to Dominika Grabowska (13′) but Paris reacted well with Mathilde Bourdieu‘s brace (27′, 61’) and Clara Matéo‘s late strike (88’). Paris are now six points behind PSG, nine ahead of FC Fleury and looking likely to finish third.
Girondins de Bordeaux won 3-0 at ASJ Soyaux with Julie Dufour finding the net (53′), plus late goals from Mélissa Gomes (90′) and Maëlle Garbino (90+3′), both from corner-kicks. Stade de Reims won 1-0 at EA Guingamp after an Océane Deslandes strike from a last-minute corner, while GPSO Issy won a crucial game at Dijon FCO thanks to Batcheba Louis (73′).
D1 Arkema results and ladder:
L'ensemble des résultats de cette 1⃣6⃣e journée de #D1Arkema pic.twitter.com/VlCB6sj6d5
— D1 Arkema (@D1Arkema) March 14, 2022
