Current leader of Group A in D2 Feminine, FC Metz has almost left feathers in his home match against Reims. The visiting team opened the score through Tetiana Romanenko before Meryll Wenger equalized for his team before the end of regulation time. A result that suits the Messines but relegates the Stade de Reims to 5th place. Summary of this meeting, counting for the 9th day of the French Second Division Championship.


Post match reactions

Meryll Wenger (FC Metz): "We were able to wake up, but maybe a little too late [for the win]."

David Fanzel (FC Metz): "We came across a beautiful team from Reims"

Amandine Miquel (Stade de Reims): "We were not going to strip them like that [at home]"

Maureen Bigot (FC Metz): "For now I ask that one thing is to play"

Melissa Gomes (Stade de Reims): "Every Sunday we face an opponent who can surprise us."


Metz is not serene

From the outset, the players on either side swing the ball to ward off the danger and win in the opposing camp. But if Reims masters the construction of his game, Metz must work his offensive technique against this opponent. Very quickly the quiet force of Reims pays with several attempts signed by the same player, Melissa Gomes from the VGA Saint-Maur. It begins with this big shot in the 20 meters in the 11th minute, which shaves the first post of Justine Lerond.


Metz is too often obliged to go ahead without taking the time to apply their tactics. On the side of Reims, Melissa Gomes (17th) will again be at the maneuver on a second shot, which passes above this time! On the side of Metz, we appreciate the hard work in the midfield of the new summer rookie, Maureen Bigot, who activates to avoid leaving too many balls to the opponent. The 21-year-old struggles without stopping.


But Reims continues to hit the goal. As with this combination of Tetiana Romanenko who transmits from the right lane to Gomes (20th) in the box and who strikes an unframed shot. Metz is struggling to create opportunities, with the number of changes in positions in the players, which should normally create a trick to take the other side to fail, but blocks in the final meters. Metz is not quiet despite its current leadership position.


Stade Reims has no doubt the control of the ball but not completely the possession of it. However, it is still Reims that continues to have opportunities. Like this corner (23rd) repulsed, Hélène Fercocq tries a shot from far that goes well above. La Bleuette brings to the side of Reims as Bigot with Metz, dynamism and impulsiveness in this meeting. The Messines (26th), who are starting to get tired of suffering, suddenly reshuffle to make themselves dangerous in the camp, well led by their lead, Meryll Wenger.


But the pace falls quickly for Metz, and Reims then has the last two big opportunities. On the left aisle this time, a center repelled by a defender Metz, then a long ball Reims in the penalty area, which is difficult to be cleared by Simone Jatoba. Her experience ends up talking, she falls but just tack the ball away from Lerond (31) to avoid the goal of Romanenko.


It's tedious between the two teams, who have to settle for this parity score at the break. A first period, where the lack of realism Rémois rubs off with the curious messina strategy. Two totally different teams on paper and on the ground in short, who will not leave the score as it is, with the will, without question, to shake the lines for the second half.

Reims had almost bent Metz

After returning from the locker room, Melissa Godart made her entrance to Bigot's place to bring a greater offensive capacity, more creation of the game as the young player was able to do so well in the beginning of poster.

Metz wants to strike hard, and better to place than Wenger to make Reims succumb. The player applies on her corner almost reentrant and Ipek Kaya (53) is unable to cut, probably slightly embarrassed by the compact defense in front of her. Wenger is again on the next action with this re-enactment for Godart (55th) but Benedicte Simon is there to intervene without stopping.

Metz also responds to this kind of attempt, as in the 62nd minute, when Ipek Kaya pushes Reims center in the box at the penalty box. The two teams are side by side, the vice tightens, the tension increases and the opening of the score will not delay.

For the moment it is still Metz who suffers, as on this danger in their area of ​​repair in the 68th minute. A danger that comes very slowly and will end up costing the Messines. Meanwhile, the Brazilian, Simone Jatoba (71) who tries this shot after a good rebound Axial Godart but it is above. One can say that it is the lack of realism, but the conditions of the match, just after the torrential rain which fell on the ground before the hour of play, explains without doubt the difficulty to have some stability of his body and accuracy of his typing. Then it is to the very young Bleuette, Léa Khelifi (73rd), on a corner that comes to be cleared by the goalkeeper of Reims Pauline Moitrel to leave the opening of the score, without success.


But this success, the Stade de Reims will have it. On a cross from Sonia Ouchène, her teammate Melissa Gomes let the ball pass in front of her, seeing her firing angle closed by Lerond and allowing Tetiana Romanenko (74th) to convert this opportunity into 0-1 gold. Reims must hold but Metz the arguments and the mind to return despite the fatigue and tedium of the task.


Because it is on the contrary, that, the Messines will use to their advantage, to turn it into a force, the pride. Wenger supported by Godart and Jatoba, the three strong heads of the team will take care of it. Not to mention Valerie Sanderson discrete in its complex position to find, but it will yet attract the attention of the opposing defense on it and thus allow the equalization thereafter.


Meryll Wenger wants to find the flaw at all costs and these last fifteen minutes will undoubtedly be thrilling to watch. Will Metz succeed? The Metz supporters hope and believe in it, while the Reims fans pray for the final victory. One of the two camps will undoubtedly be more disappointed than the other. Wenger already tries on a new free kick, far, in the 83rd minute, ie less than ten minutes before the end of this match. Every minute counts. She then hits his free kick, but Ipek Kaya can not deflect him to the far post, too much fleeing as a ball.


But while no one hoped for more, Meryll Wenger (85th) is gaining speed in the right lane, enters the box, with a Reims defense that follows and tries to close his angle of attack, but his good work will be rewarded, despite herself if we can say, since his center will be deflected directly to the back of the net, by the keeper of Reims, Charlotte Rebours 1-1! A draw that will be frustrating for both teams, but that does not help the business of Stade de Reims, a little more in search of points in this game.

But the match was not over yet, with this free kick almost deflected to the first post by Selen Altunkulak, who had already been at the origin of a shot from the left in the box early in the first period, just deflected into corner by Rebours. A goal that could have put Metz 24 points but which ensures today the most important, do not lose. While the team of Reims, author of an honorable performance will have to continue honing her game to try to pass the landing and return to the elite of Women's Football. A goal that both clubs are aware of.


The video summary of the match