Saint-Étienne beat Rodez in a penalty shoot-out (7-6), after a 0-0 draw in regulation time, and will now face the 16th placed team in Ligue 1 for promotion. Reserve goalkeeper Brice Maubleu, released at the end of the game, was the figure of the match by saving four penalties.
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The decision only came in the dramatic penalty shootout: Philippe Montanier’s bet proved decisive when he replaced his starting goalkeeper and captain, Gautier Larsonneur, with 36-year-old veteran Brice Maubleu, close to the final whistle. The archer was the unlikely hero, qualifying the Verts for a two-legged play-off against the 16th placed team in Ligue 1, which will be Le Havre, Auxerre or Nice.
The penalty shootout was a real test of nerves. Saint-Étienne looked well on their way to victory after Maubleu saved Rodez’s first two attempts, but Aïmen Moueffek wasted the ball, allowing Quentin Braat to save. The pressure increased, but Djylian N’Guessan, Abdoulaye Kanté and Maxime Bernauer kept the home team fighting. Maubleu made another save and even came forward to take the winning penalty, but he also missed. However, his fourth save was decisive, allowing Loic Nadé to score the decisive goal that erupted the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium with joy.
A completely crazy penalty shootout to conclude the Play-offs! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/EEe4PRxycz
«We are very happy to have passed this stage, it was a difficult game. This series of penalties was incredible: we were winning two to zero, we had an opportunity to decide the game with the fifth penalty, the goalkeeper saved it, then I had the opportunity to score and give the team the victory, but I made a mistake. Then I had to save the next penalty, and Micka finished the job, so it’s pure happiness. It was difficult, it’s a bit like a lottery. The penalties, we trained more or less during the week, before this game we trained, but we didn’t expect such a difficult series. We need to save energy because if we win tonight, but then lose, it won’t have done anything,” he said at the end of the match.
With this result, Saint-Étienne keeps alive its dream of returning to the top tier of French football, while Rodez will remain in Ligue 2 in the 2026/27 season.
Read more in Ligue 1 news. and related tags: Brice Maubleu, Philippe Montanier.