Les Parisiennes secure their spot in the Round of 16

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The current holders began their Coupe de France campaign on Sunday 8 January in Orléans. Les Rouge et Bleu won the encounter 3-1 and head into the Round of 16.

January is synonymous with the Coupe de France across all of French football. The men's team got off to a winning start at Châteauroux on Friday and Les Parisiennes repeated the feat with the 3-1 win over US Orléans.

Even against sides from lower divisions, the task is never simple. The first half was a perfect example of that, a tight half, which saw both sides head in at the break goalless. 

It was at the start of the second half that Gérard Prêcheur's side began to make the difference.  Sakina Karchaoui, who came on at half-time, fired in a free-kick to the back post, where Amanda Ilestedt headed home to open the scoring for her side (0-1, 48'). A first blow for the hosts, that was very quickly followed by a second.

Karchaoui broke free down her right wing with pace and found Kadi Diani, who had just been brought on, and the forward finished with a side-footed effort (0-2, 53'). With their lead consolidated, Les Parisiennes remained under pressure when Maeva Salomon reduced their lead with a cross-shot that looped over Constance Picault (1-2, 58').

Ten crazy minutes followed that Les Rouge et Bleu weathered by retaking control of the ball. Although Diani came close to a third with fifteen minutes to go, it was Grace Geyoro, who put the game to bed, ten minutes before the final whistle (1-3, 81'). 

With their place confirmed in the Round of 16, Les Parisiennes will continue to defend their title in the next round!