Ligue 2 leader Auxerre conceded a second consecutive defeat by losing to Rodez (2-0) on Saturday, during the 33rd day, a setback which allowed Angers and Saint-Étienne to get closer. The Angevins, who turned the tide against Troyes (2-1), returned to three points from first place while ASSE, led until the end of regulation time against Bordeaux, also finally won 2 -1 in a crazy finale. A double from Irvin Cardona in just three minutes gave Saint-Étienne a precious success, although they were reduced to 10 in the 73rd minute.
Angers built its success against Troyes in the second half. The Angevins were deceived first, and led shortly before the half-hour mark after a goal from Mouhamed Diop. But they then equalized in the second half thanks to a headed goal from Esteban Lepaul perfectly served from the left side (59th). Less than ten minutes later, Himad Abdelli restored the advantage to his team, who now have 58 points.
The SCO could even have thought of distancing themselves from third place, but a double from Cardona to Geoffroy-Guichard decided otherwise. While the Stéphanois were trailing 1-0 after a goal from Pedro Diaz (41st), then reduced to 10 half an hour from the end of the match, the French striker turned into a savior in added time. The first time by landing a shot from the right which deceived the Bordeaux goalkeeper, the second, a few minutes later, with a cool-headed ball. Enough to make the Greens’ public explode.
At the bottom of the table, the direct duel between Concarneau (18th) and QRM (19th) resulted in a 0-0 draw. Dunkirk moved up to 15th place with the benefit of its 1-0 victory at Amiens, ahead of Annecy (16th) which lost against Grenoble (1-0). In the other matches of the evening, Ajaccio had a great victory against Caen (2-1), despite Alexandre Mendy’s 20th goal this season, and Bastia won at Guingamp (1-0). Finally, Paris FC, 4th and therefore potential play-off, won against Valenciennes (2-1).