While the messines had flown over the 32nd round, with a score of 0-10 against Evry (DHR), the task turned out - logically - much more complex and harassing against Yzeure (D2), former resident of D1 . Like La Roche who came to the end of Bordeaux (2-0), Yzeure saw himself creating the feat. But it was enough for an opportunity transformed by Lea Khelifi in the second half to cut short this scenario. Originally scheduled last weekend, the meeting was postponed to Wednesday. The opportunity for us to live the meeting closer.

Olesya Arsenieva (guardian of Yzeure)

Equal weapons to start
Between the two clubs, the level is not so obvious, since there are experienced players on both sides and that is what allows to establish a balanced balance of power. A fact that will make the meeting attractive to follow. So to speak Yzeure is not without rest, showing as much physical as the messines, but the Auvergne team also faces a solid team that has stored automatisms more elaborate and a strategy more perfected than theirs. Which will tip the balance but without giving too quickly to Metz. Yet many times Yzeure will worry Metz, but the club of D2 lacks realism and power in his attempts. What will make the thrilling meeting with the public come en masse, even on a weekday.
Yzeure's first dangerous action is not far behind on a right-wing breakthrough by Julie Berger, but her low-flyer will be intercepted by Carleigh Williams, leaving no chance for her teammate Celia Lory to take over the pass, well marked by Simone Jatoba by the same. Yzeure reiterated two minutes later, on a shot from the entrance to the surface of Romane Bourreux, safe for the keeper messina, Justine Lerond. Metz tries to react on a revival of Wenger in favor of Martins in front, who defaults Mallory Laurent, but poorly placed Lea Khelifi fails to take the ball. Arsenyeva Oleysa, the goalkeeper Yzeurienne passed by PSG and Juvisy, ensures his position, bringing a real breath to his team and making the task very difficult in Metz. As against Evry, Elodie Martins, who had then scored a four-fold, persists on Yzeure's defense that does not break.
Like Metz, Yzeure practices on the intervals to find the fault and open the score, as with this combination of Sarah Chalabi with Lea Cassagne on the left flank, annihilated by Marie Podgorny. Or after the corner, hit by Julie Berger, who passes close to Lea Cassagne for the opening of the score. Chained by a shot from afar Alice Benoit, which borders the Metz cross!
Under the leadership of Meryll Wenger, Metz tries to recover, on a center to Lea Khelifi too far ahead of the trajectory, the ball will be cleared by Emilie Artese before Mansuy can not attempt a shot (23 '). The actions are linked one way or the other, leaving no respite or decline.
Julie Berger on free kick demonstrates, when his center is cleared by Melissa Godart before ending up in the middle between Cassagne and Gavory, who will have the last word. Another attempt that just happens to make a difference. Then Metz retorts with a shot from Wenger a shot just below the bar from the right side, saved from a saving parade by Arsenyeva!

Meryll Wenger - The player of the match (Yzeure / Metz)

Mansuy / Wenger the winning duo
Deprived of two senior players, in the person of Marine Morel and Juliane Gathrat, Metz has still been able to count on other players, besides Christy Gavory well present in the midfield to control the outbursts of opponents. These are two other players who will be decisive throughout the meeting, in the animation of the game. Héloïse Mansuy no longer present, who played in a more offensive register, which suits him perfectly and Meryll Wenger , who set the tone for his team to avoid losing the pace, the player of the game. A duo accompanied by Melissa Godart, captain of the day, who elbows to establish the predominance of Metz. Like the trio Podgorny, Williams and Jatoba assures the back of the team, despite the attempt of Lea Cassagne full axis, safe for Lerond, who will have to use his foot to clear a ball in the air to the outside the surface, seeing Berger accelerate to catch the lost ball. In the 41st minute, it was a moment of misunderstanding when Jatoba put the ball back to his goalkeeper (39 '), who retrieved it by hand.
The golden opportunity may be there for Yzeure, an indirect free kick right in the box, which will end in the wall, recover by Lory and Cassagne, who finds Bourreux in the axis. The latter then fired a shot, which could have lobbed the keeper, if his tap had not burst.
The actions continue to chained, the pace does not decline. Both want to open their counter, but pragmatism is hard to see. Solutions are hard to find. Wenger tries, without changing the outcome of things. Both teams will have to return to the locker room without being able to score goals. Frustrating in view of the number of attempts.
The second half starts again. Wenger in front, as on this free kick well struck at the back post for Khelifi, who see his shot blocked by Laurent. At the 53rd minute, Héloïse Mansuy leaves again, facing Emilie Artese in his hall, it gives full to Meryll Wenger, who tries a shot from afar, grazing the skylight of Arsenyeva, which follows the trajectory. Yzeure's goalkeeper will play a major role in the meeting for her team with Berger and Lory. Wenger (56 ') still on a powerful shot from far, which is not framed finally. The messina exercises without weakness to open the score. When Mansuy plays the technique to sneak between his opponents and be decisive.

The team of FC Metz celebrates the goal of Lea Khelifi.

The lightning of Lea Khelifi
Yzeure less present in the second half, tries to come back in the game on a combination near the right corner point, between Berger and Artese on a long center second post, where is a little hazardous Bourreux, who fails to resume the balloon (57 '). Then it is on a free kick shot by Alice Benoit right in the box, which will bring the danger on Metz, without the release of the head of Jatoba (62 '). The minutes become long until Meryll Wenger's blazing attack, which manages to take over Chalmet and Lory, passing between the two, before passing to Khelifi at the far post, who has only to steer the ball towards goal 0-1 (72 ')! A goal that will unlock the messines in their game, rather dispelled and lacks consistency with the individualities of each player. The click that is missing to the team, to ensure a better second half of the season. When suddenly the duo Mansuy / Wenger will hit again on a full axis action. Wenger hands left side to Mansuy, who transmits in the right post race to Khelifi, reported offside, to the limit. The second goal will not be on the menu.
Wenger (76 ') again on a rebate in the Martins race full axis, the player cuts the race of Candice Pognat to distil a shot at close range Arsenyeva, who had the intelligence to go out to press the messina.
The minutes are long for one camp and parade for the other. Yzeure does not give up, Metz begins to fall back in the last 15 minutes. Héloïse Mansuy left side will have the ball 2-0 for Metz, but will face a tough yzeurienne goalkeeper, who against his shot left post. Emilie Artese on the cover will come to clear the danger in front of her guardian.
Julie Berger continues to try to return to the score before the end of regulation time, as with this powerful shot in the 82nd minute over the goal messin.
Yzeure gets another opportunity to return to the score, on the corner of Berger, taken over by Pognat, who lacks power in his shot to worry Lerond, the keeper messina. Lack of luck in attack, but the Auvergne club can count on Chalmet to interrupt this incursion of Wenger in full axis, which clears the ball of a tackle slipped. The D2 club is doubly vigilant, Metz can not be deconcentrated in the game stops, annihilating each attempt.
When suddenly, from the right flank, Meryll Wenger launched a counterattack with Martins in the center, and Mansuy left side. The resumption at ground level of Martins will be countered by Arsenyeva, but his second shot, will be blocked by the forearm, involuntary or no Melanie Chalmet, which grants Metz a penalty. The player receives the same from a red card. But the hardest thing remained to be done for Metz, who had to transform the opportunity, which was being tended to them. Wenger has taken the courage to shoot him, his shot squared will be countered by Arsenyeva tibia.

The meeting will close with this attempt, which will see the victory of Metz forceps, against a team Yzeure who demonstrated good quality of play and self-sacrifice in his collective. Metz will now have to recover in the bath of the D1 Feminine, with their next confrontation against Albi, this weekend.

Photos: Nelson Fatagraf