Narrow wins, near misses, late goals and everything in between: D1 Arkema Week Three Round Up

Reigning champions Olympique Lyonnais reclaimed top spot when they condemned Montpellier HSC to a 3-1 defeat to settle the weekend’s top-of-the-table clash.

A 33rd minute headed goal from Lindsey Horan from a Selma Bacha cross set the tone for the visitors before goals from second-half substitute Eugénie Le Sommer-Daniel and a left-footed strike from Daniëlle van de Donk in the 71st and 83rd minute respectively.

Bacha was unstoppable on the left for Lyon, weighing in with two assists.

Faustine Robert scored the consolation goal for the home team when she converted a 74th minute penalty.

Elsewhere, Paris Saint-German rode their luck, again, when they narrowly overcame some strong resistance from a brave FC Fleury 91 2-1 at Stade Georges Lefèvre on Sunday.

Goals from defensive midfielder Grace Geyoro just before the breather and a strike from skipper Kadidiatou Diani at the death of second-half gave the host some breathing space after having trailed 1-0 for the greater part of the first half courtesy of a Batcheba Louis 16th minute strike.

PSG failed to turn their dominance into goals having registered seven shots on target but having only two goals to show for it.

FC Fleury, on the other hand, took the match to the hosts and even enjoyed the luxury of leading the game until the 38th minute when PSG leveled the score through midfielder Geyoro, who is slowly becoming a trusted goal-scorer for the former champions.

The visitors dearly missed the services of skipper Léa Le Garrec and striker Rosemonde Kouassi who were suspended for this trip to the capital.

Paris FC got back to winning ways, albeit by a single goal, when they beat newcomers Le Havre 1-0 on Friday on home soil at Estadio Charléty.

A right-footed strike from defensive lynchpin Louise Fleury off an assist from captain Gaëtane Thiney at the stroke of half-time was enough to settle the match.

The seasoned campaigners were nowhere near their best, as they went toe-to-toe with the league debutants.

It was a tightly contested match in which Le Havre refused to be intimidated, showing great discipline in and out of possession.

There was little to separate the two except the all-important goal. The visitors’ goalkeeper was in top form, denying the hosts a clear sight of goal.

Dijon took another step ahead when they humbled Guingamp 0-1 away on Saturday, improving from their 1-1 draw against Bordeaux last week.

A goal shortly after the breather from attacking midfielder Madeline Roth from a Jenna Hellstrom Assist was all the Christophe Forest coached outfit needed to register their first victory of the season.

The visitors finished the match down to 10 after defender Cecilie Sandvej was shown a second yellow card in the 71st minute.

Guingamp failed to utilize the numerical advantage, succumbing to their third loss of the campaign which leaves them rock-bottom.

ASJ Soyaux-Charente finally remembered how to win when they posted their first victory of the season with a 2-0 drabbing of lowly Rodez Aveyron Football on Saturday at Stade Léo Lagrange.

First-half strikes from Camille Collin, on minute seven through a header off a Laura Bourgoin assist, as well a 38th minute right-footer from Jessy Roux, again off a Laura Bourgoin assist, were enough to set the hosts on a path to victory.

Rodez failed to turn their dominance into goals as they enjoyed more shots on target (3-4) and made more successful passes at 383-392 which gave them percentage possession of 48-52.

Their strike force was their biggest let down as the failed to convert any of their 15 shots at goal.

A smash and grab performance from Stade de Reims earned them their first full set of points when they beat Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux 1-0.

Right-winger Kethna Louis scored the all-important goal on minute 35 to ensure that the visitors bag their first victory of the campaign.

In a match in which they dominated from start to finish, Girodins failed to utilize any of their 5-2 shots on target as well as 11-9 shots at goal.

RESULTS (Friday): Paris FC 1-0 Le Havre; Montpellier HSC 1-3 Olympique Lyonnais

RESULTS (Saturday): Guingamp 0-1 Dijon; ASJ Soyaux-Charente 2-0 Rodez Aveyron Football; Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux 0-1 Stade de Reims

RESULTS (Sunday): Paris Saint-German 2-1 FC Fleury 91