Play-offs: Saint-Étienne edge Rodez on penalties to reach final
After 90 tense and goalless minutes, the Verts prevailed 7-6 on penalties in front of almost 38,500 supporters, with substitute goalkeeper Brice Maubleu emerging as the hero in a dramatic and chaotic conclusion.
Maubleu gamble pays off for Saint-Étienne
With the match drifting towards penalties, Saint-Étienne head coach Philippe Montanier made the decisive call in stoppage time, replacing Gautier Larsonneur with penalty specialist Maubleu.
The gamble transformed the evening. Maubleu saved four penalties during the shootout, repeatedly rescuing the Verts as the tension inside the Chaudron reached unbearable levels. Rodez goalkeeper Quentin Braat also produced key saves, notably denying Ben Old and Aïmen Moueffek, but Saint-Étienne eventually prevailed when Mickaël Nadé converted the winning kick.
The decisive moment sparked wild celebrations among the home supporters, while Rodez players collapsed in disbelief after coming agonisingly close to extending their remarkable unbeaten run in 2026.
Rodez frustrate the Verts for 90 minutes
Despite dominating possession with 62%, Saint-Étienne struggled to create clear-cut opportunities against an organised and fearless Rodez side.
The visitors arguably produced the better chances during the first half. Willity Younoussa struck the post with a superb half-volley midway through the opening period before later attempting an audacious long-range lob that narrowly cleared the crossbar.
At the other end, Zuriko Davitashvili remained Saint-Étienne’s primary attacking threat. The Georgian winger fired over after good work from Irvin Cardona and later tested Braat with a low effort in the second half. The biggest opportunity after the break fell to Rodez substitute Waniss Taïbi Benchamma, who blazed over from the edge of the area with the Verts beginning to tire under mounting pressure.
Braat then produced a superb late save to deny Moueffek in stoppage time before the match headed directly to penalties, with no extra time played under the competition rules.
Saint-Étienne one step away from Ligue 1 return
The victory keeps alive Saint-Étienne’s hopes of an immediate return to the top flight. Speaking after the match, defender Maxime Bernauer admitted relief outweighed performance levels. “It was a complicated match. We didn’t want to make the same mistakes again. We would have liked to win in 90 minutes, but the most important thing was to qualify,” he told beIN Sports.
The Verts will now face the 16th-placed Ligue 1 side in the two-legged promotion/relegation play-off next week, with a place in the 2026/27 top-flight season at stake. For Rodez, meanwhile, the defeat ends a remarkable campaign in heartbreaking fashion after Didier Santini’s side pushed Saint-Étienne to the absolute limit after coming from behind to beat Red Star in the week.
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