Saint-Etienne seals play-off spot

PARIS — 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. 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, Reuters reported. 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. The post Saint-Etienne seals play-off spot appeared first on Egyptian Gazette.