Vital win over Soyaux [2-1]

The rain poured down on Sainte Germaine as the match got underway, but the first half was an animated affair nonetheless. In the 8th minute, Maëlle Garbino picked out Eve Périsset on the left flank with an excellent long ball. Périsset's cross was pushed back by the visitors' defence, but only as far as Ghoutia Karchouni whose shot ricocheted off the post. Things slowed down a little as the first half wore on, with few chances for either side. Getting the ball to the forwards was proving to be more complicated than anticipated, with a lot of turnover of possession in the midfield. The pitch was rapidly deteriorating in the atrocious weather conditions, hardly conducive to the Girondines' passing game. Just before the break, Soyaux seized a rare opportunity and made it count when Austry picked up the ball inside the box and put the visitors into the lead (0-1, 45').

The Girondines returned for the second half with a job to do, faced with a Soyaux side buoyed by their narrow lead. The tempo was high, and it wasn't long before the breakthrough came: in the 56th minute, Bordeaux equalised. Charlotte Bilbault picked up the ball in midfield, shrugged off her marker and picked out Katja Snoeijs with a well-placed long ball. Snoeijs cut inside and pulled the ball back for Khadija Shaw, who smashed it past the keeper and into the net (1-1, 57'). The Girondines were back in business (and Khadija Shaw had her 12th goal of the season).  Martinez Losa made a double substitution in the 59th minute: Andréa Lardez made way for Delphine Chatelin, and Ghoutia Karchouni was replaced by Julie Dufour. The Girondines were dominating possession by now, but still having trouble getting the ball to the forwards. A lack of accuracy in midfield was good news for Soyaux, providing opportunities to counter-attack. When the Bordeaux forwards did eventually get hold of the ball, they made it count. Katja Snoeijs dribbled past her marker on the left, only to be pulled down. Bordeaux had a free-kick on the left hand side of the box, which Eve Périsset fired into the wall and out for a corner.  Mickaëlla Cardia came on in the 84th minute for Katja Snoeijs, bringing some fresh legs to the Bordeaux attack and causing all sorts of problems for the visitors' defence. When she cut inside the box and laid off for Khadija Shaw, the striker fired in a shot which left the keeper rooted to the spot (2-1, 85'). Bordeaux were 2 - 1 up thanks to the Jamaican international's 13th goal of the season. Mickaëlla Cardia also notched up her first assist.  

With 13 goals and counting, Khadija Shaw has already set a new record ! With more than half the season still left to play, she has already racked up the highest goal tally in the Girondines' history. This was a crucial victory for Bordeaux as they continue to chase a top-3 spot. Pedro Martinez Losa's side gave a welcome demonstration of their fighting spirit. Allez Bordeaux !