Wonderful Wendie wins it for Lyon as PSG punish porous Stade de Reims: D1 Arkema Week 6 Round-Up
Wendie Renard took matters into her hands scoring, in emphatic fashion, the all-important goal to gift Lyon a 1-0 victory against FC Fleury 91 at home on Sunday.
In a match where they gave their all to defend deep despite playing 75% of the match a player down after forward Rosemonde Kouassi was given a second yellow for her second sending off of the season, Fleury suffered heartbreak at the finale when defender Renard scored in the 90+2 minute.
Lyon, on the other hand, threatened to blow the opponents away kicking the match in ruthless fashion, dominating all the aspects of the game, enjoying an impressive 75-25 ball possession percentage and making 539 passes.
However, the hosts toyed with their opponents with nothing to show for the dominance.
A string of substitutions which saw Inès Benyahia and Vicki Jessy Becho Desbonne, all attack-minded players introduced for Daniëlle van de Donk and Amandine Henry in the 46th and 75th minute respectively gave the hosts an extra edge and were finally rewarded for their relentlessness when midfielder Lindsey Horan fed Renard to ensure they collected maximum points.
The victory kept Lyon’s 100% start to the season intact as they wrestled top-spot back from Paris Saint-Germain who temporarily occupied the number one spot when they emerged victors against Reims on Saturday afternoon.
Elsewhere, a 2-0 PSG triumph away on Saturday condemned Stade de Reims to their first loss in more than a month.
Having enjoyed dominance in this fixture with an 80% win-rate, PSG took no prisoners with spearhead Kadidiatou Diani breaking through in ruthless fashion on the 42-minute mark to make sure the visitors went for the breather leading by a goal to nil.
The French striker was to strike again for the former champions just 120 seconds from half-time to take the match beyond Stade de Reims reach.
The two goals on either side of the break took her season tally to six across all competitions.
On the other hand, a string of second half changes failed to feed life to Stade de Reims as they got run over by the no nonsense Les Parisiens. The introduction of Haitian defender Kethna Louis failed to prevent the hosts from conceding as they were to be torn apart by a menacing Diani.
The result enabled PSG to crank the pressure at the top in what looks like a tight chase for the top prize with reigning champions Lyon.
Paris FC humbled Montpellier 3-1 on Friday evening in a match which saw both teams finish the game a player down with Marion Torrent and Eseosa Aigbogun being shown 90-minute yellow cards for the second time each.
Sharp-shooter Mathilde Bourdieu’s right-footed strike off an assist from winger Clara Matéo saw the hosts take the lead 30 minutes into the match.
The latest strike from Bourdieu takes her tally to four goals in the league.
Bourdieu turned provider in the 43rd minute when she laid up winger Ouleymata Sarr who slotted home the second goal.
Montpellier made changes in the second half when defender-cum-midfielder Dominika Škorvánková was subbed out for defender Inès Belloumou upon resumption and midfielder Cyrielle Blanc was introduced for forward Esther Mbakem-Niaro in the 58tminute in a bid to breathe life into the team. The changes sparked a breakthrough when defender Océane Deslande converted from the penalty spot in the 72ndminute.
Defender Théa Greboval’s 82ndheaded goal from a
Gaëtane Thiney assist killed the match as a contest as Paris FC emerged victorious to improve their 30% win-rate against the hosts.
A 3-1 win to FC Girondins de Bordeaux at home on Saturday compounded misery on En Avant Guingamp who missed chance to conjure their first victory of the season.
Going into the match boasting a 56% win-rate over their opponents, Bordeaux wasted no time with forward Mickäella Cardia breaking through only six minutes into the match.
Midfielder Anissa Lahmari equalized for Guingamp in the 16thminute which sprang Bordeaux back into life with markswoman Maëlle Garbino quickly restoring the advantage on 17 minutes.
Garbino struck again in the 33rd minute to ensure that the hosts retreated to the dressing room with a two-goal advantage.
The second half was more substance than skill from the home side as they cemented their advantage with a string of substitutions which saw midfielder Hillary Diaz and striker Mélissa Gomes sub in for Maëlle Seguin and Amanda Gutierres in like-for-like changes in the 56th minute.
The brace by gunslinger Maëlle Garbino saw her increase her goals to five this season, a feat which confirms her place amongst the top strikers in the division.
Le Havre AC emerged unscathed when they battled it out against Rodez registering a 2-1 home win in a newcomers clash on Saturday.
Midfielder Laura Rueda struck first for Le Havre in the 13thminute to give the hosts a 1-0 lead which took them to the breather.
Apart from the goal, a yellow card shown to midfielder Eva Sumo was the other important event that took place in the first half.
Rueda added her second for the day in the 61st minute to set the hosts on a path to victory.
Le Havre midfielder Silke Demeyere was shown two yellow cards in quick succession resulting in a send-off, something which breathed life into Rodez.
Striker Alexandria Lamontagne-Maycock pulled one back for Rodez on the 86th minute mark to ensure a nervy finale for Le Havre.
The victory saw Le Havre climb to fourth with 10 points from six games and Rodez failing to clamber out of the D1 Arkema relegation dog-fight.
Dijon left it late to inflict more pain on ASJ Soyaux-Charente with a 1-0 win at home on Saturday.
With nothing to write home about in a fixture that looked cagey for the greater parts of its duration, a solitary strike from striker Roselord Borgella in thhe 78th minute settled the match.
The result left the teams unmoved on the table with Dijon occupying spot number eight and Soyaux-Charente rooted in the relegation zone after six matchdays on 10th place.
Results (Friday): Montpellier HSC 1 - 3 Paris FC
Results (Saturday): FC Girondins de Bordeaux 3 - 1 En Avant Guingamp; Dijon Football Côte d'Or 1 - 0 ASJ Soyaux-Charente; Stade de Reims 0 - 2 Paris Saint-Germain; FC Le Havre AC 2 - 1 Rodez Aveyron Football
Results (Sunday): Olympique Lyonnais 1 - 0 FC Fleury 91