The Ligue 2 play-off 2 clash between Saint-Étienne and Rodez culminated in a tense penalty shootout this Friday evening. A pivotal decision by coach Philippe Montanier, who introduced veteran substitute goalkeeper Brice Maubleu (36 years old) in place of captain Gautier Larsonneur just before the final whistle, proved decisive. The experienced shot-stopper from Isère delivered an outstanding performance, making four crucial saves to secure a 0-0 (7-6 on penalties) victory for Les Verts. This dramatic win propels them into a two-legged promotion play-off against the 16th-ranked team from Ligue 1, either Le Havre, Auxerre, or Nice, whose identity will be confirmed on Sunday at 9 PM. The first leg is scheduled for May 21st in Saint-Étienne, with the return match taking place away on May 24th.
The penalty shootout itself was a nail-biting affair. Saint-Étienne appeared to be cruising to victory after Maubleu’s initial two saves gave them a two-goal advantage. However, Aïmen Moueffek squandered a match-winning opportunity, sending his shot directly into the gloves of Quentin Braat, Ligue 2’s top goalkeeper. With their backs against the wall, Djylian N’Guessan (17 years old), Abdoulaye Kanté, and Maxime Bernauer stepped up to keep Saint-Étienne’s hopes alive. Maubleu then made another vital save and even stepped up to take a penalty himself, only to miss. His fourth decisive stop, however, set the stage for Loïc Nadé, who calmly converted his penalty to send the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium into raptures.
Rodez’s missed opportunities
“It was a difficult match,” admitted Saint-Étienne defender Maxime Bernauer to beIN Sports. Indeed, Les Verts struggled to break down a resilient Rodez side, who arrived on the back of an impressive 21-match unbeaten run and a convincing 3-2 victory over Red Star in play-off 1.
Didier Santini’s men were notably more incisive in the first half, crafting the best scoring chances. Wilitty Younoussa struck Gautier Larsonneur’s left post with a chipped effort in the 21st minute, and Tairyk Arconte forced a save from Larsonneur just before halftime (45+1). As the second half progressed, Rodez, perhaps feeling the effects of their recent demanding schedule, began to tire. Saint-Étienne gained control of possession but struggled to create significant danger, aside from Moueffek’s central strike in the 90+1 minute, which Braat parried away. Ten minutes earlier, the fifth-placed Ligue 2 team had a golden counter-attacking opportunity, but Sammy Benchamma, receiving the ball in a promising position, completely misfired his shot in the 81st minute. Rodez will remain in Ligue 2 for the 2026-2027 season, while Saint-Étienne’s dreams of promotion to the top flight burn brighter than ever.
