Down to ten, Les Vertes trouble PSG but ultimately lose

Context

Second match of the week for Les Vertes! After resuming Wednesday's postponed match in Strasbourg (2-0), Sébastien Joseph's players welcome the league runners-up, Paris SG, to a packed Salif-Keita stadium this Sunday.

Starting XI

To take on the players from the capital, Sébastien Joseph has opted for a five-player defense with Amandine Pierre-Louis, Héloïse Mansuy, Aleksandra Gajic, Kedie Johnson, and Chloé Tapia. Up front, Sofie Hornemann and Alexandria Lamontagne will be supported by Faustine Bataillard, Sarah Cambot, and Laura Hermann.

Game scenario

In a packed Salif-Keita stadium, Les Vertes started the match well and quickly threatened the goal. Their first corner caused panic in the opposition's six-yard box (2'). Alexandria Lamontagne's deep run forced Earps to come out of her area to clear the ball with her head (4'). On their first attack, the Parisians found the back of the net through their captain and French international Karchaoui (0-1, 6'). After a quieter quarter of an hour, Echegini stood out twice. First, she failed to connect with a cross that was a little too tight (20th minute), then she shot too high from a fairly tight angle (22nd minute). Amandine-Pierre Louis, running down the wing, went down in the box after contact (illegal?) with Carmona... but the referee didn't budge (37'). Earps was forced to save a vicious cross from Chloé Tapia under the bar (40'). The Pierre-Louis-Carmona duel flared up again a few seconds later. After what appeared to be a slight contact, the referee awarded a penalty to the visitors... which Leuchter converted (0-2, 45'). After winning the ball back in midfield, Sarah Cambot tried her luck from distance. It went just wide (45th + 2). To everyone's complete bewilderment, the referee sent off Alexandria Lamontagne immediately after she had won a free kick... Reduced to ten players and victims of some highly questionable decisions, Les Vertes went into the break two goals down.

Back from the locker room, the two teams were evenly matched at first. As the hour mark approached, Les Vertes were awarded a penalty for a handball by De Almeida, who had come on at half-time, which Laura Hermann converted (1-2, 59') to the delight of the young Kids Club supporters who had previously roused the stands! The Parisiennes managed to trouble Alice Pinguet, but the goalkeeper was able to count on an offside call, her crossbar, a heroic save by Aleksandra Gajic (70th), and then her post (75th) to protect the Verts' goal. The threat resulted in a Parisian goal by Isabela, who headed in a good cross (1-3, 80'). Echegini sealed the Parisian victory by infiltrating the box and firing a missile into the back of the net (1-4, 90th+4).  Under the Saint-Étienne rain that arrived just after the Greens' goal, Sébastien Joseph's players were defeated. 

Coming next

Les Vertes have now two away games before closing out 2025 with a home match against Dijon. See you next Friday at Bollaert for a special Sainte-Barbe match against RC Lens, currently bottom of the division.