Two weeks after officially kicking off their season away to RC Lens (1-1), Paris Saint-Germain Women returned to Arkema Première Ligue action with their first home game at Campus PSG against FC Nantes, aiming to secure their first league win.
To do so, Paulo César fielded a central defence consisting of Elisa De Almeida, Griedge Mbock and Eva Gaetino, in front of goalkeeper Mary Earps. Captain for the evening, Sakina Karchaoui started in midfield alongside Jackie Groenen and Joe Echegini, while Rasheedat Ajibade started on the right wing, accompanied by Tara Elimbi Gilbert on the opposite side. Up front, Romée Leuchter partnered Merveille Kanjinga.
From the outset, the Parisians had the upper hand over their opponents. Forced into an error by Merveille Kanjinga, who sent in a cross from the right side of the box, the visitors scored an own goal through their captain Maureen Cosson (1-0, 6').
It was an ideal start for the capital club, who doubled their lead fifteen minutes later thanks to Romée Leuchter, who scored at the second attempt after seeing her first effort hit Emily Burns' post (2-0, 20').
Moments before half-time, Merveille Kanjinga found herself at the end of another cross from the right, this time initiated by Rasheedat Ajibade's right foot, who was decisive for the first time in her new colours (3-0, 40'). In the second half, Paulo César's players remained in control of the game against a brave but powerless Nantes side.
Romée Leuchter came close to getting her second, but the Parisian forward hit the post for the second time that evening (65'). As the end of the match approached, Griedge Mbock added to Paris's tally with a superb header from a set piece (4-0, 82'). But the Canaries did not give up, and Maureen Cosson reduced the deficit with a powerful strike (4-1, 83').
In a very open end to the game, substitute Florianne Jourde scored her first goal for the capital club after finding the top corner with a crisp left-footed strike (5-1, 87'), before Julie Rabanne responded with a goal of her own after breaking through the middle (5-2, 90'+3).
At the end of a lively game, Paris Saint-Germain Women secured a comfortable victory in their season opener at the Campus PSG. Now it's time for another week of preparation for the Parisian side, with their sights set on a top-of-the-table clash away to OL Lyonnes on Saturday 27 September at 9pm, on Matchday 3 of the league season.
