Parisians beaten by OL at the Parc

After drawing at Fleury in the 12th round of fixtures and losing ground on the Rhodaniennes, the Parisians had a clear objective this Saturday: to win against OL and reduce the gap to 5 points, but also to get back ahead of neighbours Paris FC, who won 6-0 against EA Guingamp earlier in the day.

So it was in a white-hot Parc - despite the 1°C temperature at kick-off - and packed with more than 20,000 supporters that Fabrice Abriel fielded a 3-5-2 formation. With Mary Earps in goal, a defence consisting of Eva Gaetino, Elisa De Almeida and Paulina Dudek, captain, Jade Le Guilly and Sakina Karchaoui on the flanks, Korbin Albert, Jackie Groenen and Grace Geyoro in central midfield, and Marie-Antoinette Katoto-Romée Leuchter up front.

After Wendie Renard's first chance from a corner and a save from Earps (6'), Les Fenottes quickly dashed the capital club's hopes. Following Tabitha Chawinga's run down the left and a cross pushed out by Karchaoui, Melchie Dumornay collected the ball and slid it into the back of the net (0-1, 7'). It was a false start, but Fabrice Abriel's side quickly got their heads back in the game and De Almeida was denied from close range (10‘), Leuchter saw her effort deflected wide by Christiane Endler (11’) and Albert failed to hit the target (13'). A clinical OL again made the difference, and again thanks to Dumornay, who broke down the left and set up Kadidiatou Diani inside the 6-yard box, who doubled the lead (0-2, 31'). Diani then came close to doubling her tally before the break when she was found in the box on the right, but her effort found the side netting (42').

Albert and her team-mates tried to get back in the game after the break, but after some good work down the right, the American was unable to get her shot on target (50'). The reigning French champions tried to extend their lead, but Dumornay failed to hit the target (51') and Diani saw her acrobatic volley saved by Earps (53'). The minutes ticked by and Leuchter tried to make the breakthrough for her side, her shot from 20 metres saved by Endler (74'). In a scramble after a corner, Dudek sent in a powerful half-volley and her attempt was blocked by Diani's hand, but the referee waved play on (78'), and did the same with Carpenter's charge on Karchaoui in the area (84'). The scoreline remained unchanged and Lyon extended their lead at the top of the table.

Following this setback, the capital club remain in 3rd place, one point behind PFC. The Rouge et Bleu will have no time to dwell on the loss, however, as they face another important target next week in the Coupe de France Round of 16, when they take on FC Nantes at the Stade Marcel Saupin, 8pm on Friday 24 January.