Bordeaux still riding high [2-0]

For this crucial game against Stade de Reims, Pedro Martinez Losa decided to name Ouleymata Sarr in his starting line-up ahead of Khadija Shaw. A choice which almost paid off after just 44 seconds, when the French international had a shot blocked inside the six-yard box! Bordeaux dominated the opening exchanges, making the most of the ample space left open by the visitors' defence. Viviane Asseyi chipped the ball past Reims keeper Phallon Tullis Joyce to open the score after just five minutes (1-0, 5').  A few minutes later, Ouleymata Sarr very nearly made it two. (11') The visitors finally woke up after a quarter of an hour, and it took a magnificent tackle from Charlotte Bilbault and an acrobatic dive from Romane Bruneau to protect Bordeaux's slender lead (16'). Back up the other end, Viviane Asseyi hit the post with a sublime curling shot from twenty yards out (19'). Back in defence barely seconds later, Vanessa Gilles put in a perfectly-timed challenge to deny Reims a shot on goal. Despite further chances for Delphine Chatelin and the effervescent Ouleymata Sarr, it was stil 1-0 to Bordeaux at the break. Early in the second half Ouleymata Sarr was yanked down inside the box, and Viviane Asseyi stepped up to take the penalty. Bordeaux were two goals to the good ( 2-0, 49'). This second goal seemed to have a deadening effect on the visitors, and the match shut down somewhat. Both sides lacked a bit of precision in the final third, and Reims' best chance came when Magou Doucouré hit the post (69').  Both Maëlle Garbino and Ouleymata Sarr came very close to widening the lead for Bordeaux (70', 72'). Substitutes Sophie Istillart (70'), Ghoutia Karchouni (75') and Emelyne Laurent (79') brought fresh legs to the final fifteen minutes, and the Girondines ended the game comfortable 2-0 winners. All the Girondines want this Christmas is a result in Marseille next weekend, to round off their incredible 2019 in style and hold on to their place in the top 3 of the league table!