In a dramatic climax to the Ligue 2 promotion play-off final, Saint-Étienne secured a nail-biting 7-6 penalty shoot-out victory over Rodez on Friday, earning themselves a shot at returning to the French top flight.

The match, which remained deadlocked at 0-0 after regulation time, took a thrilling turn when substitute goalkeeper Brice Maubleu entered the fray late in the game. The veteran shot-stopper delivered a heroic performance, saving four penalties in the shoot-out—including the first two spot-kicks—to keep his team's hopes alive. However, he nearly became the villain of the piece after missing his own attempt to win the game, before redeeming himself by stopping Rodez's tenth penalty in a nerve-wracking series.

Saint-Étienne, the sleeping giants who dominated French football in the 1970s, finished third in Ligue 2 this season. They will now face the team that finishes third-bottom in Ligue 1—either Auxerre, Nice, or Le Havre, depending on Sunday's results—in a two-legged home-and-away play-off for promotion.

Meanwhile, Troyes and Le Mans have already secured their promotion to Ligue 1, while Nantes and Metz face relegation from the top flight. For Saint-Étienne, this is a crucial opportunity to reclaim their place among France's elite, and with Maubleu's heroics fresh in mind, fans will be hoping for more magic in the upcoming play-off.