Maxence Rivera Helps USL Dunkerque Edge Guingamp

It was a scoreless first half between the two sides as Dunkerque recorded eight total shots while Guingamp countered with four. The lone goal of the contest game in the 46th minute of the second half gave the home side the advantage.

A poorly cleared ball by the Guingamp defense fell to Maxence Rivera, who fired two shots that were blocked. He tried again from an even tighter angle and beat Enzo Basilio to open the scoring.

Midway through the second half, the visitors believed they had leveled the scoring. It was a superb goal from Lenny Vallier, who won the ball just outside the box, took one touch to dribble, and followed up with a right-footed shot into the far bottom corner. However, the goal was reviewed and it was ruled out.

Guingamp wouldn't find the back of the net as they'd lose on the road to a Dunkerque side who advances to face FC Metz and is one match away from facing the Ligue 1 McDonald's club that finishes in the playoff spot.

After the win, USL Dunkerque manager Luis Castro spoke to beIN SPORTS to share his thoughts on the victory.

"We played a very good match, and I think we deserved to score more goals… But that has often been the case this season. It's good for our supporters; it was the first playoff played in our history here. The players played a great match from start to finish today. I'm very happy about that. We needed recovery, but the competitions didn't allow us that. We rotated a bit more against Red Star with that in mind […]. Metz is a Ligue 1 team in my opinion."

"There were a few in Ligue 2 this season, and Metz was one of them. We have still shown multiple times that we know how to play against Ligue 1 teams. In the Coupe de France, in the league as well, with Metz, Paris, Lorient... We will do our best. I think we still need to take into account the rest time between the playoff matches. We will play in less than 72 hours, with a trip. It would be much better for French football to allow a longer break between these matches."

The Stat: 7

Following their win over Guingamp, USL Dunkerque will face FC Metz, a team they have struggled to beat. If USL Dunkerque want to advance to the two-leg playoff tie against the Ligue 1 McDonald's club, they'll need to snap a seven-match winless streak against Metz. The last time Les Maritimes defeated Metz was in 1976 in the Coupe de France.

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>>Ligue 2 BKT Play-offs: USL Dunkerque looking for fairytale ending to historic season