Metz and Dijon seem to be getting closer to the climb at the end of this 17th day. In the bottom of the table of both groups, the fight for the maintenance remains tight especially in the group B where the last five teams are held in three points.


Group A - One more step towards the climb


FC Metz has come closer to the climb this weekend with his victory (3-1) against Brest. The Messines had to wait in the first period before opening the score through Maureen Bigot (42) with the complicity of Valerie Sanderson.

In the second half, Selen Altunkulak allowed Metz to make the break in the last quarter of an hour (79th). A gap of two goals a short time with the goal of Solenne Ninot on the Brest side (86) but Lea Khelifi allows Lorraines to get permanently safe in this match (90).

FC Metz are now eight points clear of the Stade de Reims and one match less. A gap that could make the meeting between the two teams in a month, a decisive step for the rise side messin. Having managed to keep pace with Metz, Reims went on to score a second draw at FF Issy (2-2). With the climb that goes away, the Remoises find themselves refereeing the race to maintain.


The struggle for support is in full swing


Eleventh in Group A, the FF Issy is in a three-way race with Le Mans and Lorient, with two direct runs on the line and a place in the play-offs against the teams of DH candidates for the D2. A situation that does not allow Issy to choose his matches, and this point against Reims is a positive result pending a potentially decisive duel against Lorient end of April.

Faced with Amandine Miquel's players, Issy took the first goal of the match scored by Magou Doucouré following a free-kick by Agathe Dumont at the corner of the left-hand surface. A first strike pushed by Héloïse Ralambosoa in its surface and it is Doucouré who is the first on the ball and marks on a half-volley (28th). This goal is rewarding a good first half-hour Reims, with several opportunities including Melissa Gomes (9th) and Sonia Ouchene (17th).

On the side of Issy, Batcheba and Kethna Louis, the two Haitian attackers weigh on the Reims defense and manage several times to hit the goal without success. After the break, Yacine Gousmia coach Issy made the choice to switch the two players with Kethna Louis who passes and Batcheba on the left side. A paying choice, with an equalizer from the 53rd minute for Kethna Louis who goes to the goal and wins his duel with Pauline Moitrel.

The physical game of Issy often on the limit ends up using the Remoises who quickly cash a second goal by Batcheba Louis (60th) who ends in the left side action initiated right side, with initially a good conservation work Nacera Bouchenter.

Shoved back from the locker room, Reims gradually returns to the match and manages to return to height on a superb volley right Melissa Gomes (73) on a ball Chloe Philippe. The young Reims midfielder who unfortunately has to leave on injury a few minutes later, touched ankle after contact with a player of FF Issy.


Lorient also takes a point, Le Mans yields ground


This nil result seems like a very good result for Issy, even if the players of the Hauts-de-Seine remain for the moment relegated. In question, the draw at the same time Lorient against Rouen (0-0). A result that allows Bretons to retain their slight advantage (the goal-average particular) on Issy.

The two teams stand with ten points each while Le Mans remain red lantern at two lengths after his defeat (3-5) at home against Arras. The Mancelles scored the first goal of the match by Lauren Elwis, before running after the score. Led 4-1 early in the second period and reduced to ten after the expulsion of Anaïs Gasnier just before the break, they manage to return to 3-4 by Lauren Elwis, again scorer, and Charlène Karsenti. Mamy N'Diaye then assures the victory in Arras at the end of the match.

In other games of the group, La Roche-sur-Yon retains its third place after its victory (7-2) against VGA Saint-Maur, which lost for the second time in a row on such a wide score. Among the scorers, Claire Guillard scored a hat-trick while Claire Paillat scored twice. Winner of the VGA last weekend, Angers chained on a new success, this time against Saint-Malo (1-0) with a goal scored by Manon Michel after the locker room.

Group B - Dijon accentuates its lead


In the race for the climb the road also seems to clear for Dijon. After their success last week against Saint-Étienne, the Burgundy players are now five points ahead of the Vertes. Indeed, ASSE won after their draw 1-1 on the lawn of Montauban.

A meeting where the Montalbanaises led the score within a few minutes following a free kick goal by Sidonie Demarle in the first period of playtime. After the break, Maëlle Garbino brings Saint-Etienne up but the score will stay there, and the players of the Forez drop new valuable points in the race for the climb.

At the same time, Dijon did not miss the opportunity to take off with a victory (5-1) against Aurillac-Arpajon. A victory that took shape in the second half after the opening of the score of Elodie Nakkach in the first act on a free kick by Tatiana Solanet (25th). Solanet to the distribution on two new Dijon goals and to the conclusion on the fourth goal of the DFCO in the 81st minute.

Far from being assured despite the win at Saint-Étienne, the rise takes more precise contours for Dijon especially since Nancy was also held in check on the lawn of Grenoble (0-0). Despite his late match, the ASNL will hardly be able to return to the lead tentatively ten points behind Dijon.


Five teams in three points


Conversely, in the bottom of the table, the uncertainty seems always stronger. Before the 17th day, the last five teams in Group B were in four points, with only two points separating 8th and 12th. A tightening with several upheavals in the standings this weekend with the victories of ESAP Metz and Ambilly.

Red Lantern before this weekend (but with two games late), Ambilly wins a place and comes back to a point of maintenance. A successful progression thanks to the victory of the Haut-Savoyardes against Toulouse (2-1). Three goals scored in the second half and Ambilly who wins with achievements of Rylee Baisden and Michelle Ngono Mani giving a final advantage to his team late in the game (87th).

The other leap ahead is to be counted on ESAP Metz who for his part is temporarily out of the red zone after his victory (0-1) on the lawn of Vendenheim. Three points and a decisive goal of Émilie Saccenti that allow the Messines to go up to ninth place, a point ahead of Aurillac-Arpajon and Ambilly.

A shake-up that is to the detriment of Nîmes now twelfth after losing at home against Yzeure. The Gard players lost in the second half with goals from Cynthia Gueheo-Djetou (73) and Léa Cassagne (90). A bottom of the table in Group B where the different games behind could still quickly redistribute the cards.