METZ (AFP) – Ten-time former French champions Saint-Etienne secured a return to the top flight after a tense relegation/promotion play-off win over Metz, who were relegated to the second division on Sunday.
The second leg ended 2-2 after extra time, sending Saint-Etienne up to Ligue 1 with a 4-3 aggregate win thanks to a 2-1 first leg victory on Thursday.
Ibrahima Wadji’s 117th-minute close-range strike was the decisive goal for Saint-Etienne, who had a man advantage for much of the game after Papa Diallo’s early red card.
Two years after a shambolic relegation Saint-Etienne came third in Ligue 2 this season, while Metz were third from bottom in Ligue 1.
For northern outfit Metz this was a record seventh relegation from the top flight since the turn of the century.
