A late extra-time goal by Senegalese striker Ibrahima Wadji, which secured a 2-2 draw at the Stade Saint-Symphorien against Metz, sent Saint-Étienne, who had won 2-1 in the first leg, back to Ligue 1 two years after their relegation.
The Greens, who earned the right to play in this play-off after finishing third in Ligue 2, join Auxerre and Angers, first and second respectively, who were promoted directly a few weeks ago.
Saint-Etienne’s promotion means relegation for Metz, who were second from bottom in Ligue 1 and played with one man fewer from the 5th minute after a harsh tackle by Pape Diallo on Dennis Appiah. Despite this, the Romanian Laszlo Boloni’s team took the lead in the 15th minute with a goal from Senegalese Lamine Camara from a pass by Matthieu Udol. And in the 25th minute, the home team extended their lead thanks to a penalty converted by Georgian Georges Mikautadze.
But everything started to change for Metz shortly before half-time. In the 35th minute, a corner kick by Dylan Chambost was headed by Aimen Moueffetk to the far post, where Leo Petrot appeared to put the ball into the back of the net, reducing the deficit and leveling the tie.
The game went into extra time and three minutes from the end, when the match was heading for penalties, Senegalese Ibrahima Wadji, who came on as a substitute, scored his first goal of the season from a pass by Nathanael Mbuku to send Oliver Dall’oglio’s Saint-Étienne back to the top flight after two years.
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