Kiedrzynek – Isabela, Mbock, Dudek, Carmona (Le Guilly, 63') – Groenen (Østerås, 63'), Yaya (Echegini, 46'), Jourde – Kanjinga (Morissaint, 80'), Feller (Lafontaine, 63'), Elimbi Gilbert.
Having drawn 1–1 with their close neighbours Paris FC at the Stade Charléty last Sunday, Les Parisiennes were back at PSG Campus tonight for the visit of Le Havre AC. With just a few days to go until their UEFA Women's Champions League match against Bayern Munich at the Parc des Princes, Paulo César's players were determined to build some confidence in front of their own fans this evening, and that determination was on show as early as the 10th minute, when the first big chance of the match came via a long-range free kick from Jackie Groenen. Although this initial opportunity didn't lead to a goal, it would certainly be a sign of things to come.
Just three minutes later, Isabela led a lightning-fast counter-attack down the right flank before placing the ball perfectly onto the head of Merveille Kanjinga, who took advantage of the fact that she had been left completely unmarked on the penalty spot to beat Marie Petiteau all ends up, thereby giving her side a well-deserved opener. Les Rouge et Bleue were just getting started at this point, though, as they stepped up the intensity and forced their opponents into mistakes, including a poorly weighted backpass that allowed Naomie Feller to double Paris's lead not long before the half-hour mark and to celebrate her 25th birthday with her first league goal for the capital club.
Les Parisiennes' attacking masterclass continued a few minutes later from a corner, as Griedge Mbock turned and fired the ball home in a single, gorgeous movement, meaning that her side went in at half time with a three-goal lead and an ecstatic crowd supporting them. During the interval, in fact, with one eye on next week's encounter with Bayern, Paulo César made his first substitution of the game, replacing Yaya with Jennifer Echegini.
The second half was all about game management for Les Rouge et Bleue, who maintained their control over the possession and came close to widening the deficit even further on the hour mark, when Kanjinga's low cross found Tara Elimbi Gilbert, but our no. 20 was thwarted at point-blank range by Petiteau. The Paris Saint-Germain academy graduate didn't let that get her down, though, and she was eventually rewarded for her efforts with a little over a quarter of an hour left to play, when her shot from the edge of the box ended up nestling in the back of the Le Havre net.
Despite further chances for Paris – not least through second-half substitute Marie-Estella Lafontaine – the score would stay the same until the final whistle, with Paris therefore racking up a highly convincing victory on home turf.
Naomie Feller is all smiles as she celebrates her first league goal of the season, on her 25th birthday of all days!
Les Parisiennes will be turning their attentions from the Première Ligue to the Champions League next week, when they'll look to remain unbeaten in this season's edition of the competition and to inch closer to its knockout stage in a clash with Bayern Munich at the Parc des Princes at 21:00 CET on Wednesday.
Paulo César's players will need your support against the German side, so don't delay in getting your ticket!
