The Montpellier women came up against a well-established Strasbourg team to concede a draw.

Montpellier, in pink as part of Pink October, failed to force their Strasbourg opponents to give in. Giacomo Italiano

In the evening, under the drizzle, Montpellier was held to a draw by Strasbourg (0-0) on its Grammont ground during the 4th day of the Arkema Premier League. The MHSC women's footballers lost two points without managing to go on the offensive.

Percussion and realism were the key words before the reception of Strasbourg as a clear desire to go on the offensive. However, Montpellier lacked it, in the first half in particular, even if the first two opportunities were for its central defender, Céleste Boureille, on a free kick taken with the shin then a corner with the head (4th, 7th). Gstalter escapes on the left side but his cross flies in front of the goal and flees in front of Onumonu's studs (13th). And then, almost nothing more in the drizzle. Montpellier abuses the passes to the back and struggles to adjust its passes between the lines against a well-grouped opponent. The game balances out and it is Strasbourg who plays the percussion. Enge, on the right, finds Loving whose shot is pushed back a meter from the line (23rd); the Hérault goalkeeper, Lerond, still at work with both fists above Azzaro's head (26th). Saved in stoppage time by a tackle from Rastocle in the area (46+2).

“Not enough verticality”

“We don't put enough verticality into our game; there's a bit of preparation, an opponent well in place, we have to look for positions more quickly. I would even say over the whole match” analyzes Yannick Chandioux. 
While on returning from the locker room, it was still Strasbourg who attacked before this breakaway by Onumonu who resisted his bodyguard to obtain a corner taken by Khelifi and cleared with both fists by Wahl (54th). Finally some animation. Loving retaliated (57th, 59th) but above all, Wahl intervened again against Khelifi then Coquet on a poorly adjusted Alsatian back pass (63rd).
Chandioux made three changes including the return from suspension of Torrent who found his armband and balanced the midfield in recovery and pressing. No more balls for Ouchène, small net (76th), for Ngueleu (79th) and Rouquet (83rd). The young attacker fought to get the ball out to Torrent and Ouchène, for a corner. Levasseur has the match ball, hook and strike boxed by Wahl (90th), impassable in these last minutes. < br/> Her teammates can logically surround her at the final whistle. And Montpellier take their heads in their hands, who will have waited too long to wrap up the game to take the three points. "< em >I consider that these are two points lost because we should have put the opponent in a bit more difficulty in some situations with sharper ball shots forward. That's what I regret tonight”.

Technical sheet

MHSC and Strasbourg draw, 0-0
At Grammont, Ouattara field.
Half-time: 0-0.
Referees: Mlles Fournier, Le Chevert, Khettou.
Warning in Montpellier: Palis (15th).
Warning in Strasbourg: Bonet (5th).
MONTPELLIER : Lerond – Levasseur, Boureille, Deslandes, Rastocle – Palis (Torrent, 64th) – Khelifi (Rouquet, 71st), Ouchène, Coquet (Rambaud, 86th) – Gstalter (Louis, 65th), Onumonu (Ngueleu, 66th).
Ent. : Yannick Chandioux.
STRASBOURG: Wahl – Dechilly, Jezequel, Tchakounté, Bonet – Duporge (Neller, 71st), Hoarau (Beche, 86th) (cap), Enge, Hannequin (Baldé, 86th) – Loving, Azzaro (Hoeltzel, 77th).
Ent.: Vincent Nogueira.

I subscribe to read the rest