The match lacked excitement until the very end. Saint-Étienne struggled against Rodez, who had gone 21 games unbeaten and had just secured a 3-2 victory over Red Star in playoff 1. Maxime Bernauer, a defender for the Greens, admitted, «It was a tough game.» The Ruthénois team was incisive, with Wilitty Younoussa hitting the left post from a header in the 21st minute and Tairyk Arconte testing Gautier Larsonneur in the 45th minute.

In the second half, Rodez faded slightly, but Saint-Étienne failed to capitalize. Aïmen Moueffek’s strike in the 90th minute was too central and easily stopped by Quentin Braat, the Ligue 2 goalkeeper of the year. Moments later, Sammy Benchamma missed a clear chance from a rebound, squandering Rodez’s best opportunity of the evening.

With the score deadlocked at 0-0 after extra time, the match was decided by a penalty shootout. Philippe Montanier’s bold decision to replace captain Gautier Larsonneur with substitute goalkeeper Brice Maubleu proved decisive. The 36-year-old from Grenoble made four saves, including a crucial stop against Loïc Nadé in the seventh round, securing Les Verts’ place in the playoff final.

The shootout was nerve-wracking. Saint-Étienne took a two-goal lead after Maubleu’s initial saves, but Aïmen Moueffek missed the chance to win the match, his shot saved by Quentin Braat. Saint-Étienne’s youngster Djylian N’Guessan (17), Abdoulaye Kanté, and Maxime Bernauer kept the team in the game. Maubleu himself had a chance to seal the victory but missed his penalty. His fourth save, however, was the most important—Nadé converted, sending Geoffroy-Guichard into raptures.

Saint-Étienne will face the 16th-placed team from Ligue 1—either Le Havre, Auxerre, or Nice—in a two-legged playoff. The first leg will be played on May 21 at Saint-Étienne’s Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium, with the return leg scheduled for May 24 away from home.