For this first match of the 20th day of the championship, Rodez received Saint-Etienne at Paul Lignon stadium. An important meeting for one as for the other club, for the maintenance, which is still far from being won for the two teams to three days of the end of this 2016/2017 season.


In the first half, both teams go for a shot but the first big chance is for Rodez. Bornes finds Barbance indented, but the strike is picked up by Chavas (8 '). Saint-Etienne does not abdicate and creates opportunities. Pingeon eliminates Couturier and tries a cross shot, but it misses (28 '). In the end, it is the Rafettes who will manage to break away before the break. The first center can not find anyone but on the second attempt, Flavie Lemaître beat Mylène Chavas of the head and opened the score (41 ') 1-0. An opening of the score that comes just before the break in a game with the appearance of final battle between these two elite clubs.

But in the second half, the Stéphanoises will not settle for this defeat and will be to their advantage. Saint-Etienne presses high, to the point of putting in difficulty the Ruthenoises. Léonie Fleury, coming into play a few minutes before, could have equalized twice for her team. The first chance is denied for an offside (61 '), the second stopped by Niphon (68'). The end of the meeting becomes more animated. Rodez tries somehow to shelter but butt twice on the door of the ASSE, Mylène Chavas, named to the UNFP hope award. A title more than deserved for the international goalkeeper U19 / U20. On one last action, Saint-Etienne will end up having his equalizer. On a center left side, Daniel wants to clear but slips and sees the ball end in his own net (90 '+ 3) 1-1. An unfortunate equalizer for the Rafettes, but that will still allow Saint-Etienne to believe in its maintenance, tutelage this area of ​​relegation for a few months now.


The end of the match was cruel for Rodez who could not keep his advantage until the end. Note that Coralie Austry, entering the 65th minute, made her comeback after a long injury. A draw that rings hollow in view of the importance of these last meetings, where each club except the top 6 play their place in D1, with the descent as a result for the last two.