Goalkeeper Pauline Moitrel scored the only goal and made two key late saves as Monaco United won 1-0 away at Saint-Didier-Pernoise on Sunday, September 27, moving alone to the top of the Regional Championship.

It was a top-of-the-table clash, with both sides unbeaten and on two wins from two. The win gives Monaco United three from three, and they are now the only team in the division with a perfect record.

The game was tight on a demanding pitch. Monaco United had the better of possession early on and created chances, but Saint-Didier-Pernoise stayed in the contest. The sides went in level at 0-0.

The breakthrough came around the hour mark, and it was unusual. With a free kick to be delivered towards the opposition penalty area, head coach Marco Simone called Moitrel up from her goal to take it. She struck it into the net.

“I asked Pauline to take it because I know the quality of her strike and I believed she could create something from that situation,” Simone said. He called the goal a reward for the confidence, courage and hard work of the whole group.

Moitrel put it down to her coach. “The goal was classic Marco Simone! He asked me to come up and take the free kick,” she said. Monaco United had chances to make the win safe but could not find a second goal, and the home side kept pressing until the final whistle.

Moitrel then went back to her day job. On a counter-attack she made a confident save, and in the closing minutes she threw herself across her goal to tip a long-range effort away from the top corner.

The goalkeeper said the opposition had played heavily on the counter-attack, so the team had to stay vigilant and avoid dropping too deep. She described the three points as very important, won away against a direct competitor.

Simone stayed cautious about the table. He said he was most pleased with the players’ mindset: they win, they stay united and they are learning to respond to different situations.

The club also marked a first this weekend. Four Monaco United teams played league matches on the same weekend, and all four won. The reserves won 11-0 away at Fréjus, while the U15 and U18 sides also took their fixtures.

The result extends a strong start to the club’s first Regional campaign, following promotion after last season’s District title. Monaco United opened the season with a 9-1 home win over AS Cannes.

Image courtesy of Flare Vision