PSG Feminine defeat Soyaux in season finale
By Hidayah Ali
Paris Saint-Germain headed over to play against already-relegated side Soyaux for their final D1 Arkema matchday on Saturday evening and the capital club was able to finish the year on a positive note beating their opponents 3-0 on the road.
PSG had lost their chances of winning the league title the previous weekend against Lyon, who finished the season as champions for the second season running, but they fixed their wrongs (to the extent that was possible) in the final weekend of the season.
Paris S-G were able to finish their season with a comfortable 3-0 win against the bottom side, at least entering the offseason with a positive feeling in their minds.
Who started the game?
PSG Formation: 4-2-3-1
GK: Constance Picuad
Defenders: Li Mengwen, Georgieva, Ilestedt, Lawrence
Midfielders: Fazer, Albert
Forwards: Martens, Bachmann, Baltimore, Vangsgaard
Coach Gerard Precheur used the majority of the squad's B-team, with players like Georvieva and Albert able to make the starting XI on an extraordinary occasion.
Amanda Ilestedt played her first game since picking up an injury a few months back. She played the full 90 minutes and managed 65 accurate passes.
Barbora Votikova played her first game this season after replacing Picaud in the second half. She played a good 45 minutes, with some good saves, and managed to keep a clean sheet. Great seeing her back.
Mansitta Traore also played 45 minutes; it wasn't her best game, but she got more playing time which can add to her growing experience with the side.
Match Report
Overall, it was a good game from the Parisian side. Clinical in front of the goal, decent on defense, and showcasing dominant ball control, PSG just coasted past a Soyaux side unable to trouble them but with a chance or two throughout the game.
Those went for nothing, though, as Votikova dealt with those opportunities nicely or the opposition just poorly finished them.
The first goal was scored by Ramona Bachmann, who recently signed an extension of her contract with PSG for a further two years.
The goal was a product of a terrible clearance by the opposition keeper; while saving Bachmann's initial shot, she couldn't clear the ball away fully and ended up pushing it right back into the feet of Bachmann, who then her team in the lead.
Another error from the keeper led to Amalie Vansgaard putting PSG two goals up. She was in the right place, at the right time, and took full advantage of the poor keeping from Munich, Soyaux's goalie.
For the game's final goal, Laurina Fazer kept great control of the ball and showed brilliant skill, which led to a goal for Sandy Baltimore—a great assist from the younger player.
Three points to finish off the D1 Arkema campaign, where they ended as runner's up. This game also marked the end of PSG Feminine's 2022/23 season in full.