A header from Wendie Renard to give Les Bleues victory, doesn’t that remind you of anything? As in the last match of the French women’s team, the Olympique Lyonnais defender turned into a header to give her partners victory against Norway (2-1). With three victories in as many matches, the Blue are first in their group in the Nations League with 9 points. But everything was not so easy once again…
In a very dull first half where the two teams observed each other for a long time, it was the novice at this level Julie Dufour who broke the deadlock. Untenable on her left side, she magnetized the game until finding the breach in the 23rd minute.
On a magnificent one-two with Grace Geyoro, the Paris FC attacking midfielder, ultra-decisive since the start of the club season, pierced the opposing defense to find himself alone on the left before crossing hard from behind. It was ultimately the clumsy foot of Maren Mjelde, the Norwegian defender, who deceived her own goalkeeper. Enough to perfectly launch the first selection in Blue for Dufour.
Otherwise, not much to eat in this first act, apart from a 25m strike from Eugénie Le Sommer, well captured by the opposing goalkeeper. The second period is much livelier. It was Norway who struck first, returning to the score on the hour mark. On a lost ball from Karchaoui in his own half, Löfwenius’s cross from the right ricocheted twice before landing at the feet from Lund alone against Picaud. Despite a good save from the French goalkeeper, the Norwegian left defender was there to push the ball into the back of the net and put the two teams back on level terms.
Bacha-Renard, repeated twice
But the Blues did not doubt for long. As is often the case, the solution came from a corner thanks to the immense Wendie Renard. On a cross placed at the near post by Selma Bacha, the Olympique Lyonnais defender came to uncross her head to find the opposite net. A classic already seen during France’s last match against Austria (1-0) last September, which works once again to give the Blue the advantage.
Without trembling against the Norwegians who took a blow to the head with this second goal, Hervé Renard’s girls even dominated the end of the match. Bacha even thought he found the top corner from afar in the last quarter of an hour, before Geyoro hit the opposing goalkeeper with a pointer. 2-1, final score. The Blues sign a third victory in a row in the Nations League and can calmly look forward to the return match at home, this time in Reims in four days, against the same Norwegians.
