Rodez shocks Red Star in thrilling Ligue 2 playoff clash
Ligue 2
Playoff stage
Red Star 2-3 Rodez AF
Red Star 2-3 Rodez AF
Goals: Cabral (15′) and Escartin (61′) for Red Star // Baldé (29′), Magnin (67′) and Younoussa (69′) for Rodez AF
Red card: Haag (90’+5′) for Red Star
In a rollercoaster Ligue 2 playoff match at Bauer Stadium, Rodez AF delivered a stunning comeback against Red Star, overturning a two-goal deficit to win 2-3. The victory sends the Aveyron-based side to the next round against Saint-Étienne at Geoffroy-Guichard, where the atmosphere promises to be even more electric. Fans who stayed home to watch Koh-Lanta missed out on a feast of football: sizzling merguez sausages, golden sunset skies, and goals galore.
The Red Star started brightly, with Kevin Cabral rising majestically to head past Quentin Braat after a pinpoint cross from fan favorite Damien Durand (0-1, 15′). The home side piled on the pressure, and Tairyk Arconte’s physicality set up Ibrahima Baldé to equalize (1-1, 29′). The game then descended into a frantic, end-to-end spectacle, with a bizarre two-minute interruption midway through the first half as police escorted individuals off the pitch. By halftime, Sweet Caroline had filled the stadium with energy, but the best was yet to come.
Rodez AF remain unbeaten in Ligue 2 since November
Red Star nearly doubled their lead early in the second half, with Braat making a crucial save to deny Cabral a second. The deadlock was broken when Josué Escartin turned provider into scorer, slotting home after a clever backheel from Cabral (2-1, 61′). Rodez struck back almost immediately, with Mathis Magnin’s stunning volley from a corner (2-2, 67′).
The floodgates opened in the final minutes. Two controversial penalty appeals were turned down, but Rodez capitalized on the next attack. Wilitty Younoussa, scoring his first league goal of the season, rounded Gaëtan Poussin to make it 2-3 (69′). The visitors, unbeaten in the league since early November, nearly added to their tally but saw their celebrations cut short when Giovanni Haag was sent off for insulting the referee in stoppage time. A cruel night for the Parisian side, who left under a chorus of boos from their own fans while Rodez celebrated in style.
