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Substitute 'keeper sends Saint-Etienne into promotion play-off / Photo: © AFP
Substitute 'keeper sends Saint-Etienne into promotion play-off
Saint-Etienne will contest a promotion play-off for the French top flight after an eventful 7-6 penalty shoot-out win over Rodez in the final of the Ligue 2 promotion play-off on Friday.
Saint-Etienne goalkeeper Brice Maubleu came on as a substitute with the match locked at 0-0 late in regulation time to save four penalties in the shoot-out, and even missing one himself.
Maubleu saved the first two spot-kicks but fluffed his own chance to win the game as he almost turned from hero to villain, before stopping Rodez's tenth penalty of a nerve-wracking series.
The sleeping giants who were a major power in the 1970s finished third in Ligue 2 and will now take on whichever of Auxerre, Nice or Le Havre finish third bottom of Ligue 1, decided on Sunday, in a home and away contest.
Troyes and Le Mans are already promoted, while Nantes and Metz are relegated from Ligue 1.
M.Stefanski--GL
