The team featuring Portuguese player Joao Ferreira overcame Rodez in a memorable penalty shootout for goalkeeper Brice Maubleu, who saved three penalties, missed what could have given them the victory… but made another save.
Saint-Étienne, where Portuguese player João Ferreira plays, maintains its chances of promotion to the French league. This Friday, it secured qualification for the play=off against the 16th-placed team in the top league, by winning at home against Rodez in a penalty shootout (7-6 after a goalless draw), in the final of the Second Division play-off.
After a 0-0 draw at the end of regulation time, the game was decided by a penalty shootout, with goalkeeper Brice Maubleu being the star of the night. The 36-year-old goalkeeper came on in the 90th minute, replacing starter Gautier Larsonneur, to be Saint-Étienne’s man in the penalty shootout.
Maubleu saved the first two penalties taken by Rodez, and Saint-Étienne took a 2-0 lead. Later, with the score at 3-3 (João Ferreira, who came on in the 90th minute, successfully scored Saint-Étienne’s fourth penalty), Aimen Moueffek had the victory within his grasp with the team’s fifth penalty, but Rodez’s goalkeeper, Quentin Braat, maintained the tie, and the decision went to sudden death. Both teams scored their next three penalties, and at 6-6, Maubleu again saved a third penalty. Then, Maubleu himself took a penalty, missed, but… saved a fourth penalty, and with Saint-Étienne’s 10th penalty, the 20th of the shootout, Mickael Nadé secured the victory for the team coached by Philippe Montanier.
Rodez, who finished fifth in the Second Division and won the single=leg semi=final play=off against Red Star (fourth place) 3-2, sees their promotion dream end. Saint=Etienne, who finished third in the Second Division and won tonight, now awaits Le Havre, Auxerre or Nice. One of them will be 16th in the French league.