Montpellier opened this thirteenth day of the championship with a win this afternoon against Olympique Marseille. A 3-2 success, with a two-way match in which Sandrine Bretigny scored twice for her return to the field.


This Saturday, Montpellier relaunched the debates of the D1 Women's Championship. The Héraultaises received the Olympique de Marseille, current last in the standings. An opportunity for the Olympians to show a new face after a frustrating first part of the season despite their victory against Paris FC. But the MHSC in Grammont was not going to leave points to his attacker of the day.


We knew the importance of this first meeting, back to the serious things for these two teams who opened the ball in the year 2018. We expected a match played and uninhibited on both sides. Jean-Louis Saez certainly aligns his team-type, but the task will however announce difficult. Christophe Parra will repeatedly change the formation of his team to go from a 4-5-1 to a 4-4-2 and reversing the placement of Cindy Caputo, from left side to right side.


Marseille trapped entrance

The meeting begins with a lot of enthusiasm, with the Olympian players wanting to respond to the duels and the physical impact of the Hérault game. But it will turn against them when Kelly Gadea will come to block a Montpellier. The referee whistles the foul, and allows the MHSC to have a good free-kick. It is Sandie Toletti who is in charge of the hit, and Linda Sembrant (2nd) comes to place a header at the point of penalty 1-0!

Montpellier continues to dominate his opponent, as on the center of Sofia Jakobsson on the right side of the penalty area for Valérie Gauvin but Amandine Soulard (13th) is pushed from the head to the penalty spot. Another demonstration of the talent of this player, who never lets go, nor a match until the last minute.

A state of mind that we find more and more among the Olympians, who despite their start of the catastrophic season are always keen to do well. Unfortunately, Marseille will once again concede a goal when a hand Tess Laplacette is reported by the referee in the 24th minute. Just or unfair, it is difficult to have a definite opinion. Janice Cayman will turn it on a pole returning 2-0 (25th).


The best defense is the attack


In front of Montpellier, the Marseillaises knew that a result would be complicated to fetch. Teammates Kelly Gadea continue to suffer, as at this center Marion Torrent for Jakobsson, but it is again rejected by Soulard (29th) in front of Montpellier. Before the Swedish striker also tries a center for Gauvin (40th) at the first post, the latter is cutting his head, but it shaves the second post!

But Marseille wants to have a say, unsurprisingly through Viviane Asseyi, a real tornado leading the Olympic attack. And it is Cindy Caputo who will give him a good discount full axis, it avoids the offside and hit the penalty area, Anouk Dekker tries to stop it and makes Meline Gerard (42) react in the second to block his hit. In the other camp, Geneviève Richard will also focus on this hit full axis Sandie Toletti (45th) at the entrance to the surface. A saving parade, which allows Marseille not to take a third goal in this first period.

Back from the locker room, the solutions are lacking in Marseille but the players continue to fight and give the best of themselves. A state of mind that will end up paying. On the other side, these two goals in advance bring Montpellier closer to victory but without bringing serenity. And just before the hour, this is bad news that will put a blow to the minds of Montpellier. On a bad move, Sandie Toletti (58th) - just called by Corinne Deacon in A - fall, with an expression that reflects the strong pain felt by the midfielder Herault. She then goes out on stretcher before future exams to know the gravity of her injury.

In the minutes that followed, Montpellier pale, recalling also the serious injury of Sofia Jakobsson last season. But the latter is also there to get his team back on track, as on this great attempt with Valerie Gauvin (64th) but it is cleared by the Marseille defense. A minute later, Gauvin will have more success on this good center of Clarisse Le Bihan, she just adjust just below the cross of a flat-foot shot for the 3-0.

Bretigny needed to save the furniture


The Marseillaises multiply efforts to the image of Gadea, Asseyi or Pizzala in the axis without forgetting Fanndis Fridriksdottir to boost the sides. The Icelandic will eventually end up on the first goal of Marseille. Just before that Montpellier has a new opportunity.

A well orchestrated combination by Marion Torrent in the axis, which gives back to Sofia Jakobsson on the left of the box, before it distributes his ball to Stina Blackstenius (75th) on his right, but the shot of the young Swedish shave the first post.

Moments later, Sandrine Bretigny reduced the gap for OM, shortly after coming into play. Alone in front of his ball, Meline Gerard, falls back on his relaxation and lets out the ball, that Viviane Asseyi wants to dispute to the guardian of Montpellier. Méline Gérard pushes him back, from the tibia but towards Bretigny (77), on the lookout on this poorly cleared ball. The attacker and assistant coach of OM then comes to place a half-volley which is lodged at the bottom of the net of the MHSC 3-1.

A goal that will have the gift of stinging his teammates. And a quarter of an hour from the end, everything seemed still possible in this game. Marseille wants to come back, but Caroline Pizzala must continue to do his best to block the onslaught of Montpellier. Just like this tackle in the penalty area on this entry from Blackstenius (87th), which ends in a corner. Despite this new situation, we note that Montpellier has struggled to get back in the movement after the release of Sandie Toletti.

Marseille pushes, rises, builds offensively and has long teeth in the last minutes, but catching two goals will be complicated. We even have the impression that another goal would be out of reach, but the Parra team will make us lie. On an overflow Fanndis Fridriksdottir, Montpellier is taken aback and does not believe in the goal, but will have the unpleasant surprise to cash a new one on the head of Sandrine Bretigny, demarcated and who comes to place a head that leaves Meline Gerard without reaction 3-2 (90 + 5)!

Despite the return of the OM, Montpellier gave the impression to control his subject against a Marseille team that has struggled to set up, but who has returned the situation after several game facts. which shows once again that the differences in the ranking are not a barrier, and that all D1 teams are able to shine with conviction and solidarity.