Rodez Aveyron football treated themselves to a victory against leaders Troyes (2-1) on Monday evening in the closing match of the 30th day of Ligue 2, after an exhilarating performance that brought them closer to the play-offs. A memorable evening.
The late downpour and the late hour did not prompt many spectators at the Paul-Lignon stadium to leave their seats as soon as the final whistle blew. Many of them extended the enjoyment for a few more minutes, congratulating their heroes. The silence following Mozart’s performance was also Mozart-like, but the enthusiasm that followed yesterday’s Raf performance was also part of Raf, a mix of ecstasy following a perfect evening and a moment of communion filled with promise. The Ruthénois treated themselves to a victory lap and a clapping session with the Ruthénois fans worthy of their performance, as they overcame Troyes, the leaders, in an immense performance that will surely be remembered by the red and gold fans for a long time.
It is still uncertain how far this beautiful story will go, whether the good results will unfold into a prolonged spring, but one thing is clear, Didier Santini’s men have shown that they will be contenders in the race for the play-offs. Their impressive unbeaten streak since November 7th has already made a strong case, and if there were any skeptics about the value of this team, they probably changed their minds last night. Even though they may not have the same pedigree as their direct competitors, Rodez proved that they are more than just bystanders at the top of the table. Yesterday’s success brings them back to the top 5, level on points with Reims, and only three points behind Red Star, who are fourth, two teams that will face off this weekend.
The score did not fully reflect how the red and gold squad dominated the class leaders. But beyond the accounting reality, it’s the impression that the Ruthénois left that made a strong statement. Faced with Troyes who had a seven-game undefeated streak, the score alone did not show how the red and gold squad overwhelmed the class leader, rendering them powerless, overwhelmed by a flurry of runs, efforts, generosity, intensity, and forward momentum until their lungs burned and their thighs were on fire. Estac’s guys eventually lost their composure, with a red card for substitute Mounaïm El Idrissy (89th), after two protests during the same action.
The Ruthénois took care of everything, even the script, by turning around a poorly started evening. They were surprised early on by Martin Adeline’s goal in the 3rd minute, taking advantage of a mistake by Evan’s Jean-Lambert. The rest of the match was completely in favor of the Aveyronnais, who weaved their web calmly, posed a threat with Taïryk Arconte excelling in his role of pest. They also showed dedication and did not give up despite missed chances, by Mathis Saka (29th, 49th) or Arconte (45th) in particular.
Their efforts paid off when Saka equalized from a free kick in the second half (54th). Despite fatigue, the Ruthénois found a second wind to continue their undermining work. Their runs behind the defense continued to be effective, as well as the midfield’s activity, and the relief came from a counterattack initiated by Wilitty Younoussa and led by Ibrahima Baldé, finished by Arconte (72nd).
This success delighted the crowd, who supported their team throughout the match in unison with their proteges. When it came to preserving the advantage, the red and gold side once again did everything right to avoid suffering too much. They still relied on another crucial save from Quentin Braat, their talisman, who pushed Renaud Ripart’s shot onto the left post (83rd). This serves as a reminder that in Rodez, everyone contributes to the collective achievements. And the best may be yet to come.
