Les Parisiennes triumph in Le Classique!
Women's football•
Paris Saint-Germain left it late before overcoming old rivals Olympique de Marseille 2-0 at the Stade Francis Turcan de Martigues, on Matchday 9 of the Première Ligue on Saturday!
Kiedrzynek - Isabela, Samoura, Mbock (c) (Dudek, 90'+2), Le Guilly - Yaya (Osteras, 82'), Groenen (Jourde, 69') - Charlier (Lafontaine, 69'), Echegini, Elimbi Gilbert - Morissaint (Kanjinga, 46').
There was even more at stake than usual in Le Classique this weekend. Having seen Paris FC - 2–1 winners over Le Havre AC earlier in the day - overtake them in the standings, Les Rouge et Bleu were determined to reclaim their second spot, while Marseille came into the game in fourth place, just four points behind Les Parisiennes and hoping to close the gap on the top three.
Paris burst out of the blocks and Joe Echegini, played in by Tara Elimbi Gilbert, failed to hit the target with the first chance of the evening (7'). Marseille responded through Claire Lavogez, whose half-volley was saved by Katarzyna Kiedrzynek (25'). Both teams then hit the woodwork: Yaya struck the post from a tight angle (28'), before Lavogez hit the crossbar from a direct corner (34'). Released through on goal, Elimbi Gilbert saw her shot saved by Emily Burns (36'), and Griedge Mbock’s header from a corner was cleared off the line by Mathilde Bourdieu (38') as Paris pushed for the opener.
Paris continued on the front foot after the break, and Echegini drove into the box but failed to hit the target (52'). The Olympiennes had ridden their luck and began to grow in confidence. Bourdieu beat the last Rouge et Bleu defender but shot wide (60')! Spotted by Alyssa Charlier (making her first-team debut on her... 16th birthday!) with a cut-back into the box, Elimbi Gilbert was the next to fail to hit the target (64'). OM then could have a goal of their own as Isabela went within a few centimetres of an own goal (73'), before Nelly Rodrigues was denied by Kiedrzynek (74') and Bourdieu fired wide (75').
And the home side would regret those missed opportunities as two Parisian substitutes came off the bench to make the difference. After a run down the right flank, Merveille Kanjinga delivered a pinpoint cross for Florianne Jourde, who beat her compatriot with a header from 6 metres out (0–1, 76')! irrepressible and voted player of the match, it was a corner from the Canadian that was turned into her own net by Lexis Missimo (0–2, 88').
It was a welcome victory that sees Paris Saint-Germain reclaim second spot on the Premiere Ligue ladder. Now attentions turn to another busy week that will see Les Rouge et Bleu take on Chelsea FC Women this Wednesday 18 November at 21:00 CET at the AFC Wimbledon Stadium in London on Matchday 5 of the UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage, followed by the visit of US Saint-Malo three days later at the same time to the PSG Campus.
Florianne Jourde and Jade Le Guilly celebrate Paris Saint-Germain's second goal