OL Lyonnes kicked off the new Arkema Première Ligue season by dropping an absolute hammer on Fleury, cruising to a ruthless 7-1 victory that had everyone remembering why they dread playing the reigning champions. This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement, and at the heart of it all was Melchie Dumornay, who absolutely owned the pitch and bagged herself a hat-trick to start the year.
Lyon’s Ruthless Opener Sets The Tone
Dumornay, Lyon’s technical leader, was everywhere, driving the game forward from the jump. She was instrumental in Lyon heading into halftime with a shocking 6-1 lead. Talk about stepping on the gas and never letting up! And she wasn’t alone: Jule Brand was an absolute force on the left flank, delivering three assists, including two direct dimes for Dumornay. Brand’s corner kick also set up Tarciane for Lyon’s opener. Vicki Becho joined the party too, forcing an own goal before netting one herself. And just when you thought they were done, substitute Julie Swierot wrapped things up with a stunning long-range strike. Lyon’s midfield strategists, Damaris Egurrola and Swierot, clearly had Fleury on skates.
Parisian Sides Start Strong, Others Stumble
Over in the capital, both Parisian sides also secured clean starts, though with less fireworks. Paris Saint-Germain, fresh off their UWCL qualification, snagged a 2-0 road win against Lens. Coach Paulo César rotated his squad, and Rasheedat Ajibade made the most of it, scoring early and leading most of PSG’s attacks. An own goal sealed their win, leaving Lens to fear a long and painful season after barely avoiding relegation last year. Meanwhile, last season’s finalists, Paris FC, also kicked things off with a promising 2-0 home victory over a disappointing Nantes side. Ecuadorian defender Manoly Baquerizo debuted with a header to open her account, and playmaker Clara Mateo, always so sharp, forced an own goal to seal the win. Nantes, who snuck into the top four last campaign, looks like a different team after a massive summer exodus.
Marseille’s Overhaul Shows Promise
Down south, Les Marseillaises are looking like they mean serious business this season after a huge summer overhaul. They brought in thirteen new faces, including French internationals Claire Lavogez from Real Sociedad and Julie Thibaud from Leicester City. A bunch of additions also came over from Nantes following the appointment of former Canaris coach Nicolas Chabot, the 31-year-old tactician who guided Nantes to a surprise playoff spot last season. That Nantes influence was clear early on, as Marseille took the lead after 30 minutes against Le Havre. This team looks ready to make some noise.
The APL is only one week deep, but Lyon has already sent a message: good luck trying to catch them. With new-look teams like Marseille showing early potential and the Parisian sides getting solid starts, the big question is whether anyone can truly challenge Lyon’s dominance or if they’ll just keep rolling. What a way to kick off the season!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply