This Sunday was the shock of the second place of the championship of France between Montpellier and Paris Saint-Germain. A match on behalf of the 18th day that ended in a large victory for the Hérault club on his Grammont lawn. A result that allows them to resume provisionally second place in front of PSG.


Chelsea's freshly-defeated Champions League win on Wednesday saw the Paris Saint-Germain host this Sunday in a crucial match for second place in the championship. After a 3-1 defeat in the first leg, Montpellier had to win but on the best possible score since in case of a tie at the end of the season, it will first be the particular goal average that will be taken into account to decide between both teams. On the other side, in case of victory PSG took a decisive step towards Europe.

However, the players of Patrice Lair went to the Herault somewhat weakened, between the wounds and players of South America parties to the Copa America. A situation that brings the PSG coach to put Sandy Baltimore on the left side, Ashley Lawrence goes right and Eve Perisset goes into the middle.


A balanced first period


The first half is rhythmic and balanced. Even if Montpellier starts strong, and gets first opportunities. Notably this pivotal recovery of Janice Cayman forcing Katarzyna Kiedrzynek out the ball for a corner (10th). After the quarter of an hour of play, it will be the turn of the Parisiennes to take the game to their account. Marie-Antoinette Katoto is found in the depth, the scorer of red and blue realizes even a beautiful pigeon wing to get rid of Anouk Dekker, but Sakina Karchoui returns well and goes out for a corner (17th). An alert on the goal of Casey Murphy, without typing, which will undoubtedly be the best Parisian opportunity of this first period. Especially since Montpellier will restore intensity.

On a pass from Baltimore to Paulina Dudek, the young Polish is out of control and Sofia Jakobsson takes the opportunity to spin towards the goal. Lonely she tries to hit, but it lacks conviction to deceive the Paris door (20th). A lack of conviction in the last gesture that is still found in this one-two between Katrine Veje and Sandie Toletti, followed by a strike from Veje that does not worry more than that Kiedrzynek (32nd). Finally, at the break the two teams stand in check on a draw and blank.


Jakobsson shows the way


After the break, the Pailladines will be dangerous entry with a new opportunity goal. Right side Janice Cayman sends a beautiful cross to the far post, Jakobsson is at the front desk but his recovery from outside the right foot passes just above (46th). This is only part for the Swedish striker since two minutes later she manages to open the scoring. Marie-Laure Delie loses a ball in midfield, Virginia Torrecilla recovers and goes up several meters before making a superb opening in the depth to her teammate. Sofia Jakobsson then takes the ball into the box and wins her face-off with the Polish goalkeeper.

Annoyed by Marie-Laure Delie's loss of balls, Patrice Lair sent Melike Pekel to warm up in the first period. The Paris coach makes the change between these two players, shortly after the opening of the score. Paris tries to react, like this good service from Katoto to Jennifer Hermoso. But the shot of the Spanish player is captured by Murphy, who had anticipated (58th). Kadidiatou Diani will also have an opportunity on this powerful shot that flees the frame (63). The young player who celebrates today her 23 years then concedes a penalty in the wake. She who seemed to make a good return on Jakobsson, touching the ball with the tip of the foot, it imbalances at the same time his opponent and the referee points to the penalty box. As in the first leg, it is the Belgian Janice Cayman who is responsible for transforming it, a perfect counter-foot (65th).

Paris is in danger for 2nd place


A full match and all in control of Montpellier who continue to attack to get this third goal. Laetitia Tonazzi is not far from lobing Kiedrzynek (71). It is Stina Blackstenius who finally offers this third goal to the public of Grammont, five minutes after its introduction. On the edge of the MHSC, Jakobsson clears a ball, and midfielder Blackstenius is in the fall. The Swedish striker embarks on a crazy race, putting three Parisians in the wind before deceiving the visiting goalkeeper (74th).

With this beautiful victory 3-0 the players of Jean-Louis Saez can once again believe in Europe, for the next season. Since with a better goal average particular, the Montpellier are in front of the PSG in case of equality of points. Which is the case now. If Paris Saint-Germain has a late match (against Fleury), the girls of Patrice Lair must still face the Lyonnaises before the end of the season. Thing that the players of the Hérault have already done. Thus, the club of the capital could be forced of a result (null or victory) against the OL not to miss a second consecutive year the Champions League. What make this end of the season exciting, although, as for the title, it seems now acquired in Lyon for a twelfth consecutive season.


Match sheet


Sunday 1st April 2018, 14h00 - Domaine de Grammont (Montpellier) - D1 - 18th day.

Montpellier HSC - Paris Saint-Germain: 3-0 (0-0)


Referee: Victoria Beyer

Goals: Sofia Jakobsson (48th), Janice Cayman (65th) and Stina Blackstenius (74th).

Warning: Sakina Karchaoui (81st)


The teams :


Montpellier: 1-C. Murphy - 4-M. Torrent, 6-A. Dekker, 23-L. Sembrant, 7-S. Karchaoui, 14-V. Torrecilla, 8-S. Toletti, 9-L. Tonazzi (19-C. The Bihan 89th), 17-J. Cayman, 10-S. Jakobsson (21-V, Gauvin 93e), 11-K. Veje (15-S Blackstenius 69th).

Coach: Jean-Louis Saez.


PSG: 1-K. Kiedrzynek - 17-E. Perisset, 14-I. Paredes, 4-P. Dudek, 12-A. Lawrence, 7-A. Diallo, 11-K. Diani, 10-J. Hermoso (6-A, Hegerberg 82nd), 13-S. Baltimore, 18-M-L. Delie (27th Pekel 51st), 9-M-A. Katoto.

Coach: Patrice Lair.


Photo: Twitter @MontpellierHSC