Louna Ribadeira runs towards goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie before being joined by all the Paris FC girls. Voted best hope of D 1 Arkema on Monday at the UNFP Trophies, the 19-year-old striker has just scored the decisive shot on goal. During this session, Reims missed two in this small final of the French Championship between the two clubs beaten in the semi-finals of the playoffs.
A penalty shootout. So this is how a whole season played out. But unlike the semi-finals of the Coupe de France and the championship against PSG, this session smiled on the Parisians. For the third time in a row, they qualify for the preliminary round of the prestigious European Cup. And this is only fair compared to the magnificent season achieved by this team which has multiplied its European exploits (elimination of Arsenal and Wolfsburg, double victory against Real Madrid in groups) this year.
For right side Julie Soyer, 38, who was playing the last match of her rich career, the emotion was strong. Carried in triumph by her teammates, she received the farewell gift she had dreamed of.
This small final, played at 6 p.m. in the anonymity of a sparsely filled Charléty stadium, was not really a promotion for women’s football. This formula of the playoffs (signed until 2029 with Canal +), supposed to strengthen the attractiveness of the championship, has convinced neither the clubs, nor the coaches nor the public. Believing that they had no chance in the half against Lyon last Sunday, the Rémoises played around a lot, and lost heavily (6-0) to bet everything on this Friday’s match. Paris FC played a semi-final with high physical and emotional intensity against PSG (5-4 in the tabs).
Certainly a little tense in the first period, the Parisian club struggled to put its game in place even if Clara Mateo, positioned at the forefront, found the post on a header (20th). Reims thought they scored but saw their goal canceled for offside. A decision confirmed by the VAR (29th). In the second period, the PFC put on a little more intensity.
“The stakes in the match made us tense, our feet were shaking”
After two saves by the Reims goalkeeper on attempts by Kessya Bussy (52nd) and Julie Dufour (68th), a strike from Louna Ribadeira just above (65th), and a free kick from Théa Greboval on the bar (72nd), Clara Matéo finally frees her team (1-0, 83rd). But on the commitment, the referee awards a penalty to the Rémoises, confirmed by the VAR. Rachel Corboz, the sister of Parisian Daphné, transforms it and equalizes (1-1, 87th). Before the outcome and a huge relief for Paris FC who were very scared…
“The stakes of the match made us tense, our feet were shaking, we missed a lot of passes, we had no gas,” admits Sandrine Soubeyrand. Reims had nothing to lose and caused us a lot of problems. On the conceded panalty, we defend poorly. But this is the consequence of our lack of relaxation. We lacked lucidity and discernment. Fortunately, it ends well. We started in the Champions League almost ten months ago by qualifying on penalties (against Arsenal), we still end with penalties. It rewards everyone’s work. We finished 3rd with the same number of points as last season with 10 additional Champions League matches. There are only positives to take away from this season. »
Match sheet
PARIS FC – REIMS: 4-2 at the tabs (0-0, 1-1)
Spectators: 1,552.
Referee: Ms. Beyer.
Buts. Paris FC : Mateo (83e), Reims : R. Corboz (87e s.p.)
Paris FC: Nnadozie – Soyer, Greboval, Sissoko, Bogaert – Le Mouel (Old Hocine, 88th), D. Corboz Korosec (52nd), Bussy (Ribadeira, 61st), Thiney (cap), Dufour (Fleury, 88th) – Matthew (English, 88e). Entr. : Soubeyrand.
