For the return match between the two leaders of group B of D2, the Stéphanoises received the Dijonnaises at Parc Des Sports Étivallière, a field not far from the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. While the local players had managed to snatch victory at the end of the match in the first leg (2-3), Dijon will manage to put the ingredients to take revenge.


A match with stakes

We knew that this match was a priori crucial for both teams in the optics of the climb, with the last six meetings to play for both clubs.

The first commitments are intense between the two teams, who set the tone for the rest of the game. The ASSE will get the first dangerous opportunity, which is deviated by Emmeline Mainguy (18th), the keeper of the Burgundy club. The DFCO in turn chained on several opportunities, such as on the set pieces of Tatiana Solanet, the number 10 team that is as comfortable ball on foot as the centers. Or as on this attempt to hit the Dijonnaise, deflected by Mylène Chavas (30) from the end of the left glove just below the crossbar!

There are too many approximations in the construction of the game of the two teams, who are also facing another element of size, the ground, which slows terribly the speed of the ball on the ground and thus discounts a camp like the other. A situation that will put the two teams back-to-back at the end of the first period, despite the goal of Allison Blais (43) on a good discount Laura Bouillot just before the break, refused for offside. The public had believed it.


Dijon finds the fault

After the break, the discourse of the Dijon coach will resonate with these players, since they will manage to better place their game, facing the Stéphanoises in lack of landmarks at home. However, the Stéphanoises will believe in their chance to win the match, but the ascendancy is on the side of Dijon, who is cool despite physical play and dueling more and more numerous.

It will be necessary to wait until the hour of game or almost to see the situation to be released. But meanwhile, the ASSE will get an opportunity on a shot in the final completely unscrewed Lucie Pingeon (48th), with a ball totally out of frame, the player Etienne was too eccentric, well embarrassed by the Dijon defense to be able to place his stroke. Then it is the door of Sainté, Mylène Chavas (57th), who will come to repel a dangerous ball on a saving exit outside its penalty area against the sprint of a Dijonnaise. The lob did not go far.

Unfortunately for Saint-Etienne, the danger will be clearer. Fatoumata Baldé (58), who was hooked up all the way through the first period, found himself in a one-on-one against Chavas, who pushed his attempt at the end of the gloves onto a dive on the ground. But Marina Josserand has remained on the lookout and can send the ball to the bottom (0-1).

ASSE knows that it must quickly pick up the score. An emergency that is found in Kelly Gago, the most recent convened by Gilles Eyquem team France U20. It was found on this attempt in the 61st minute, which will remain futile, because the Etienne attacker is too eccentric in the left lane. Gago will eventually have a lot of trouble to be incisive on his side, too well blocked by the Dijonnaises, who have learned the lesson of the first leg.

And the break was not far for Dijon with this strike too crushed Solanet (67th) on the center of one of his teammates. The Dijon midfielder who will multiply the efforts for his team during the entire match. A great asset for the Burgundy club. Three minutes later, Candice Gherbi (70th) will avoid the second goal and allow her team to continue fighting.


Baldé's station wagon

ASSE begins to lower the foot, facing a team Dijon energetic and supportive. Qualities that are also found at Saint-Etienne, but less visible in this game and it's going to be expensive for the players of Forez. On the other side, Baldé (76th) was still present to store a good ball but neither Josserand nor Blais are there to recover and Chavas takes the initiative to clear the danger in the distance.

Ten minutes from the end of the match, Dijon will make the break through his secret boot, Fatoumata Baldé, capital of success in Dijon, well surrounded by his teammates. After being the first goal, she will be at the conclusion on the second achievement of his team in the 80th minute following a good pass from Solanet on his right 0-2.

Saint-Etienne will want to save the honor at the very end of the match through Maëlle Garbino, always so technical, and this time again skilled on set kick. A nice shot curled on free-kick but the goalkeeper of Dijon, Emmeline Mainguy (88th) manages to intervene not without difficulty and recover the ball without being trapped by a lob.


Les Vertes missed the opportunity to make a double blow by winning this second game of the season against Dijon and to be much more sheltered for the climb. The Stéphanoises have not been able to add their individualities to get the victory home, facing Dijonnaises angry and eager to win this important success for the final sprint. The DFCO gains three valuable points and regains its leading position in Group B, with one more victory and one more goal against Saint-Etienne on the particular goal-average (4-3). To return in front, Saint-Étienne will have to hope for one, to see two missteps of Dijon and to realize a no-fault on his side.


Featured picture: Pascal Souchon


The post-match reactions:

Noémie Carage (ASSE): "We took a hard enough goal and we did not manage to react"

Jérôme Bonnet (ASSE, coach): "We got a shot in the foot"

Marina Josserand (DFCO): "It's now where it's going to be the hardest to handle"

Yannick Chandioux (DFCO, coach): "I worked a lot on managing emotions on this match"


Match sheet


Sunday March 18, 2018, 2 pm, Étivallière Sports Park (Saint-Étienne), D2 - 16th day
ASSE - DFCO: 0-2 (0-0)


Referee: Soriano Camille.

Goals: Marina Josserand (59th) and Fatoumata Baldé (80th) for Dijon


The teams :

ASSE: 1. Mylène Chavas - 5. Marion Boishardy - 6. Aude Moreau - 8. Candice Gherbi - 10. Lucie Pingeon (9. Maëlle Garbino 53) - 11. Audrey Chaumette - 14. Noémie Carage (24. Coralie Digonnet) - 20. Morgane Courteille - 26. Charlotte Gauvin (c) - 27. Marion White Gonnet (33. Myriam Zanoubi 75th) - 29. Kelly Gago

Bench: 21. Mery Lou - 30. Laura Suchère

Coach: Jerome Bonnet


DFCO: 1. Emmeline Mainguy - 2. Alexia Trevisan (c) - 3. Agathe Maetz (Coline Gouineau 70th) - 4. Adeline Rousseau - 9. Laura Bouillot (11. Marina Josserand 15th) - 10. Ophelie Cuynet - 14. Tatiana Solanet - 20. Elodie Nakkach - 21. Fatoumata Balde (19. Pauline Cousin 80th) - 24. Charlyne Horn - 26. Allison Blais

Bench: 15. Manon Vif - 30. Camille Pinel

Coach: Yannick Chandioux