On behalf of the 9th day of D1 Feminine, Saint-Etienne received this Sunday the VGA Saint-Maur Stadium Leon Nautin. In a crucial match in the fight for the maintenance, the two teams were neutralized (2-2).

The match was announced tense, as the stakes were high for both teams. And he was. In a first tight and lively period, it is the Saint-Mauriennes who light the first wick, with a shot by Kelly Gago who passes right next to the cages of Peyraud-Magnin (2nd).

Saint-Etienne is not slow to respond by Sarah Palacin, but the guard of the VGA, Melodie Carré, leaves impeccably in the feet (4th). The ball goes from one goal to the other, with both teams getting great chances, whether it's Marlyse Ndoumbouk who gets a shot off the post after Kani Konté's free-kick (10th), or Saint-Laurent. Etienne on a free kick at the surface entrance played in two stages (14th).

The Vertes will be closest to the opener in this first act ten minutes later. Indeed, on a center-shot, Maeva Clémaron sees the ball end on the crossbar (24th). Despite the opportunities that ensue on both sides, no team cracks, the two goalkeepers remain uncompromising on their goal line. The score remained there at the break, the VGA and ASSE indulging the duel that was expected between two clubs lacking points.

The second period restarts it completely differently. After a green head that touches the cages of Carré, Marlyse Ndoumbouk gets a penalty after being retained by returning to the surface Etienne. She does not tremble to convert and give the advantage to her team (0-1, 48th). In the process, the best scorer Saint-Maurienne will even drive the nail. Part in the depth following a pass by Céline Chatelain, the latter deceives in one against a Peyraud-Magnin with a flat foot to afford a double (0-2, 49th).

The Franciliennes even get a 0-3 ball behind, but the door of the Vertes intervenes before Lilia Boumrar to maintain his team (53). But in the minutes that follow, we witness the awakening of the hosts face Saint-Mauriennes who keep going back. On a corner, Clémaron took the ball that returned to the entrance to the surface to deceive Mélodie Carré (1-2, 55th). Remotivées, the Stéphanoises push to equalize. On a departure from Rose Lavaud, they managed to pick up the score, the ASSE player adjusting the door Yellow and Blue close (2-2, 59th).

The VGA Saint-Maur, who is no longer in his match since the 0-2, is even close to being led. Indeed, the hosts get in the wake a penalty following a poorly controlled tackle from Konté on Palacin. Julie Peruzzetto rushed to score but Melodie Carré managed to push the penalty on the post before capturing the ball (66th). A capital stop that allows the women of Paris to stay in the game, even if the rest of the game will be dominated by ASSE.

The door Saint-Maurienne out again a big parade on a shot of Naminata Traoré moments later (69th). If the VGA tries to react, Marlyse Ndoumbouk seeing his shot countered (72nd), and make changes, the end of the game remains Green. The assaults of the hosts are increasing before the Yellow and Blue defense, coach Saint-Maurien even asking them to "bite the bullet" in this end of the game. But neither the cross shot Palacin (79th) and his duel against Carré (80th), nor the free kick 25m Vertes (86th) do not yield the VGA. The latter will even have a golden opportunity at the end of the game to leave with the victory, Ndoumbouk overflowing left side but seeing his shift towards Boumrar pass right in front of the line without being taken (90 + 4th).

The ASSE and the VGA are therefore part of a draw 2-2, where the Vertes can feed regrets as they dominated the last half-hour game. The Saint-Mauriennes leave with two points and chained for the first time times this season two consecutive games without defeat. They remain 11th, one point from Saint-Etienne, coming out of the red zone thanks to a better goal difference compared to La Roche, new 10th. Saint-Maur will try to rebound in two weeks with the reception of Montpellier, while the ASSE will play a new capital match for maintenance against La Roche-sur-Yon.

The post-match reactions:

Photo credit: Marceau Carré