Goals: Cabral (15th) and Escartin (61st) for Red Star // Baldé (29th), Magnin (67th) and Younoussa (69th) for Rodez

Red Star’s Haag sent off (90th+5)

The Red Star and Rodez delivered a thrilling Ligue 2 playoff showdown at the Bauer Stadium on Tuesday evening, with the visiting Rodez emerging victorious (2-3) despite trailing twice. The win sends them to Saint-Étienne’s Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium for Friday’s decisive tie, where the atmosphere promises to be even more intense. Fans were treated to a feast of football, complete with goals aplenty, sizzling merguez sausages, and a sunset that painted the sky in vivid hues.

The full-house crowd at Saint-Ouen spurred the Red Star into action early on. Kevin Cabral rose highest to meet a pinpoint cross from fan favorite Damien Durand, heading past Quentin Braat into the top corner (0-1, 15th). Both teams showcased attacking intent, but Rodez equalized through Ibrahima Baldé, who capitalized on his physicality to nod home a Tairyk Arconte cross (1-1, 29th).

Rodez remain unbeaten in Ligue 2 since November

The Red Star pushed hard in the second half, with Braat making crucial saves to deny Cabral a second goal. However, the tide turned when Cabral turned provider, feeding Josué Escartin to restore the Red Star’s lead (2-1, 61st). Rodez responded within minutes, with Mathis Magnin volleying a corner into the net (2-2, 67th).

In the ensuing chaos, the Red Star believed they had won a penalty twice, but the referee waved play on. Rodez seized their chance, with substitute Wilitty Younoussa rounding Gaëtan Poussin to score his first league goal of the season (2-3, 69th). The visitors have now gone 16 games without defeat in Ligue 2, a streak dating back to November. Their evening was capped off when Giovanni Haag was sent off in stoppage time for dissent, leaving his team with ten men as the delighted Rodez supporters celebrated in the stands.

Next stop: Le Chaudron!

Red Star (5-3-2): Poussin – Sylla (Magnin, 75′), Durivaux, Escartin, Huard (Haag, 62′), Durand – Danger, Pierret, Hachem (Ba, 75′) – Cabral (Khaoui, 75′), Ikanga (Benali, 62′). Manager: Grégory Poirier.

Rodez (3-5-2): Braat – Galves, Laurent, Magnin, Lipinski, Jean-Lambert (Ponti, 66′) – Mendes (Benchamma, 90’+2′), Trouillet (Saka, 86′), Joly (Younoussa, 66′) – Baldé (Nagera, 86′), Arconte. Manager: Didier Santini.