Lyon triumphant as PSG lose ground: D1 Arkema Week 4 Round Up
Champions Olympique Lyonnais continued with their spirited title defense routinely beating D1 Arkema new-comers Rodez 2-0 on Sunday to cement their place at the apex of the log.
In a match which they dominated with intent from the onset, and finding the breakthrough as early as the fifth minute thanks to a strike from winger Delphine Cascarino from a Melvine Malard pass, Les Gones never looked back. They continued with their dominance and doubled their lead in the 32nd minute when Delphine Cascarino turned provider for centre striker Eugenie Le Sommer to kill and bury the match as a contest.
Rodez struggled with the potency shown by Lyon and ended the match trailing 6:1 on shots on target. The introduction of strikers Inés Barrier and Océane Saunier late on failed to conjure up any rival against the Lyon backline led by Wendie Renard.
Elsewhere, Le Havre reminded every supporter that they belong amongst the big girls when they held former champions Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 at home on Sunday afternoon.
Despite having trailed for the greater part of the first half courtesy of strikes by striker Kadidiatou Diani through a ninth minute penalty and forward Ramona Bachmann in the 24thminute, Le Havre finished the first half on the ascendancy with forward Eva Sumo reducing the deficit on the 39th minute mark.
The hosts emerged from the dugout the strongest and were rewarded in the 52nd minute when midfielder Christy Gavory restored parity to set the match up for a photo-finish.
PSG huffed and puffed for the entirety of the second half, registering an impressive 31-69 ball possession but failed to make all the dominance count. Le Havre, on the other hand, had a fair share of shots on target, narrowly trailing 3-5 against their much-fancied opponents.
Montpellier continued with their downward trajectory when they labored to a goalless draw against Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux at home on Friday night.
Trusted goal-getter Maelle Garbino failed to inspire belief from central-attacking midfield and striker Mickaélla Cardia was poor in-front of goal, failing to find the breakthrough in the 88 minutes she played.
Bordeaux’s defensive triumvirate of Marion Haelewyn, Andréa Lardez and Julie Thibaud ensured that all threats were dealt with and kept a clean sheet for the first time this campaign en-route a share of the spoils against Montpellier.
Paris FC proved too hot to handle for Dijon Dijon Football Côte-d'Or when they condemned them to a 2-0 defeat at home on Saturday.
A 10th minute strike from left-back Célina Drifa Ould Hocine and a 78thminute penalty from Gaëtane Thiney were enough to bag maximum points for the visitors.
The win saw the side from the capital leapfrog Montpellier to end the weekend third with 10 points from four games.
Two quick-fire strikes from Monique Ngock and Kethna Louis and another from Julie Pasquereau were enough for Stade de Reims to beat struggling Guingamp 3-0 at home on Saturday.
Ngock struck in the 30th minute before Kethna doubled the hosts’ lead with a strike just two minutes later. Pasquereau tripled the lead with a strike at the stroke of half-time.
Guingamp never recovered from the first half horror show with the introduction of midfielders Nina Gwenael Richard and Angel Gurhem, striker Marie-Charlotte Léger and defender Maïwen Renard in the second half failed to bring about any meaningful chances.
FC Fleury 91 showed signs of recovery from their defeat to PSG last weekend when they drew 1-1 against ASJ Soyaux-Charente at home on Saturday.
Goals on either side of the breather — a 12th minute strike by Fleury striker Batcheba Louis and a 55th minute reply from Soyaux defender İpek Kaya — ensured a share of the points.
RESULTS: Friday 30 September (Montpellier HSC 0 : 0 FC Girondins de Bordeaux)
RESULTS: Saturday 01 October (Olympique Lyonnais 2 : 0 Rodez Aveyron Football)
RESULTS: Saturday 01 October (FC Fleury 91 1 : 1 ASJ Soyaux-Charente)
RESULTS: Saturday 01 October (Dijon Football Côte d'Or 0 : 2 Paris FC)
RESULTS: Saturday 01 October (Stade de Reims 3 : 0 En Avant Guingamp)
RESULTS: Sunday 02 October (Le Havre AC 2 : 2 Paris Saint-Germain FC)