Against Aurillac, the Olympians confirm : 4-1 !

By Philippe Serve

The players of OM answered positively to the the big Première at home this season, winning widely against Aurillac (4-1), thanks to a convincing second-half.

We knew that and we said it, the main arguments of Olympique de Marseille féminin this season would likely combine some virtues and areas of a well-defined game : tactical intelligence, physical and mental strength, a midfield capable to project itself quickly thanks to its former and reconstituted… Parisian duo (Rubio and Pizzala), and the contribution of a second scorer (Cousin), in support of the usual (Pourquiès)... On Sunday, everything was strictly enforced, even if we had to wait a bit... The aforementioned four players scored and assured all assists, the team winning with a tactical adjustment made after the break, stifling its opponent in the end thanks to its superior athleticism, its willingness to always go "straight to the goal" and its offensive realism.

Caroline Pizzala, like a symbol

A Marseillaise exiled to PSG for the last seven years, Caroline Pizzala (17 caps for France) decided in the offseason to go back home, and finally wear the white shirt of OM she never ceased supporting during all these past years. And, as a symbol, she chose the team’s first home game in D2 (necessarily historical) to score her first goal for her new club, after only 5 minutes of play !

Against the reds of Aurillac-Arpajon aligned in a 5-4-1, Christophe Parra’s surprise was leaving Anaïs M'Bassidjé on the bench in favor of Lugdivine Montagna, as Eloise Vallet letting Cathy Abou-Deraa take her place in midfield. This latter had the first opportunity short after the kick-off, following a rush of Pauline Cousin in the open space, well launched by Pizzala. Moments later, this one countered an opposite clearance in midfield. Rubio got the ball and sent Cousin into orbit. Pichon, Aurillac’s goalie, went ahead to the Olympian striker who managed to deflect the leather sphere with her toe. The ball travelled to the left side. Pizzala took it back and slipped it into the net, despite the tight angle (5', 1-0) !

Caroline Pizzala, player of the match

Aurillac comes back, but OM replies

The visitors thought they had equalized from a corner, but the goal was rightly disallowed for a charge on Anaïs Hatchi, the Olympian GK. It was only postponed. After Léa Rubio had gotten a yellow card (23'), Océane Saunier sent a superb strike from over 30 meters that, driven by the strong mistral, rushed just below the crossbar, despite Hatchi’s spring (36', 1-1)... Christophe Parra’s voice was heard, he was probably seeing too much approximations and technical waste in his team. His players set out again on the attack, as Cathy Abou-Deraa who saw her attempt stopped once more by Pichon. But just before halftime, Pizzala - unsustainable - sent a perfect cross from the left at the near post. Pauline Cousin left cleverly the ball pass between her legs to Alicia Pourquiès, alone, 5.50 m in front of the goal posts. The instant left-foot volley ended into the net (45', 2-1)... Half-time came on that almost flattering score...

Christophe Parra and Jean-Christophe Colombi

OM accelerates, Aurillac cracks

A bit dizorganized in the first period, the Olympians came back with better intentions in second... and this time with the help of the strong wind. Pourquiès and Pizzala bumped first to Pichon, their attempts nor sufficiently supported or well placed. Christophe Parra sent then Charline Marcilly onto the pitch, she who had missed the first two games because an injury. Two minutes later, OM realized a superb triangle play as the Olympians love to do. Rubio served Cousin back to the goal-post, who passed to Pizzala, who in turn opened on the right for... Rubio who had kept running forward. OM’s captain entered the penalty-area, dribbled inside an opponent, before nicely sending the ball with her left foot to the low corner of the unfortunate Pichon who could do nothing... (68', 3-1).

Goal by captain Léa Rubio !

The game has just started again that the girls in white delivered the coup de grace ! Alicia Pourquiès passed to Pauline Cousin in the open space on the right. The number 9 pushed the ball on, took the time to control it and this time won her 1v1 with the goal-keeper (69', 4-1)...

Players and staff could exult at the final whistle. Knowing how to raise the quality of their playing, the Olympians have sent a strong message to all future opponents : the team is full of resources and has an impressive offensive potential (9 goals in two games). The return of Marcilly, a very precious player last year, is a strong addition, and Christophe Parra gets a new range of choices for building his team.

Pauline Cousin

In ambush

With this second consecutive win, OM now stands in third place in Group C of D2, 3 pts behind the two leaders, Nimes and Monteux, and tied with Le Puy, the FA Marseille and Toulouse. A position that the Olympians will try to improve next Sunday in Claix, and while Monteux and Toulouse on one hand, Nimes and FAMF on another, will have to meet...

P.S.

©Philippe Serve

OM 4-1 Aurillac Arpajon

D2 féminine - Group C – 3^rd day
Stade Roger-Lebert, OM beat Aurillac Arpajon 4 à 1. Half-time : 2-1.
Referee : Mr. Eric Vitry assisted by Anthony Guiheneuf and Joachim Terdjman.
Delegate : Jean-Christophe Montrelay.
Goals - OM : Pizzala (5), Pourquiès (44), Rubio (68), Cousin (69). Aurillac Arpajon : Saunier (36).
Yellow cards - OM : Rubio (22), Laplacette (51). Aurillac Arpajon : Guellati (31), Devez (64).
OM : Hatchi - Laplacette, Roffe-Vidal, Perrin (Pelloux, 81), Montagna - Rubio (cap), Pizzala (M’Bassidjé, 86) - Ben Abdelghani (Marcilly, 66), Pourquies, C. Abou-Deraa - Cousin.
Coach : Christophe Parra.
Aurillac Arpajon : Pichon - Luc (Robin, 86), Rouge, Rabeyrolles, Teisseire, Defargues - Courel (Maillot, 84’), Carlier, Guellati, Devez (Chabrier, 90+2) - Saunier (cap).
Coach : Alain Mdrzieres.

Match sheet : OM.Net

Photos : Yannick Parienti/OM.Net