Two years after going down to Ligue 2, AS Saint-Étienne defeated Rodez in match 2 of these playoffs (2-0). A result which allows the Stéphanois to offer themselves a double clash against Metz, 18th in Ligue 1, next Thursday and Sunday. Before moving to Geoffroy-Guichard, Rodez eliminated Paris FC in the first playoff match on penalties at home.
The rhythm set by the 22 players from the first minutes was able to delight a Saint-Etienne Chaudron which was set ablaze before kick-off. From the fifth minute, Sissoko crosses for Saint-Étienne and looks for Cardona. Rodez defender Raux Yao puts the ball in a corner but is close to scoring against his side, then seven minutes later, Rodez striker Andreas Houtondji hits above Larsonneur’s goal.
Sainté sets fire to the Rodez area
A Maçon strike off target later, Saint-Étienne showed its fangs and continued to make the Ruthenian defense suffer. In the 32nd minute, Sissoko saw his shot deflected by the young Ewen Jaouen (18), who did it again just after on Cardona. Le Chaudron believes in it, as do Olivier Dall’Oglio’s men, but the score remains 0-0 at the break, despite Saint-Etienne’s four shots on target. Opposite, Rodez struck three times, without finding the target.
Upon returning from the locker room, and after the return of Tairyk Arconte in place of Houtondji for Rodez, the festivities returned with a vengeance on the Saint-Etienne lawn. In front of their audience, the Greens continued their offensives, like Dylan Chambost (47th). Ten minutes later, he did it again with a direct free kick. In his cages, Ewen Jaouen manages to touch the ball with his fingertips to send the ball for a corner.
In the action that followed, Ruthenois captain Bradley Danger allowed his team to stay in the match by diverting a shot from Sissoko onto his line, well served from behind. The opening score has never been so close for “Sainté” and in the 65th minute, Irvin Cardona opened the scoring with a cross shot from a cross from Chambost. Not enough to discourage Didier Santini’s men, when Corredor took advantage of a bad outing from Larsonneur to strike. On the ground, Tardieu deflects the ball to complete an action as crazy as this meeting is exciting.
In the final minutes of the match, the intensity dropped on the pitch, certainly not in the stands. A diligent Saint-Etienne defense was able to repel the last attacks from Rodez, despite Gauthier Larsonneur having diminished since the action of Corredor. A final action concluded with a solo goal from Mbuku (90th + 6) sends Saint-Etienne into the play-offs. Two years ago, the Greens fell from the elite against Auxerre at the same stage. This year, they hope to bring the Garnets down to accompany their former Burgundian tormentors in Ligue 1.
The dam program:
ASSE (L2) – Metz (L1): Thursday May 30 at 8:30 p.m.
Metz (L1) – ASSE (L2): Sunday June 2 at 5 p.m.
