MATCH REPORT | Metz 2-2 Saint-Étienne: Les Verts seal return to Ligue 1 | OneFootball

“If there’s a lack of desire, then that’s professional misconduct – in that case, his contract should be terminated.” Metz manager László Bölöni’s public rebuke of his captain Matthieu Udol, who had pointed to a lack of “desire” within the team after their first-leg play-off defeat to Saint-Étienne, was telling of the tense mood within the club in the last few weeks.

There would be no shortage of heart from Les Grenats in Sunday afternoon’s return leg, though, as they looked to overturn the 2-1 deficit from Wednesday’s match at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. With that result, sealed by Irvin Cardona’s late winner, Les Verts were on the cusp of clinching a return to the top flight at the second time of asking,

The hosts would be dealt an early blow, as winger Papa Diallo was sent off for a high boot on Dennis Appiah – a challenge which was upgraded from a yellow card after a brief VAR deliberation. Les Grenats did not fall back, though, and were rewarded for their adventurous approach soon after as Lamine Camara equaliser from close range from Matthieu Udol’s ball across goal.

Metz would veer in front minutes later, with Mikautadze converting the penalty he won himself after a drive into the box from the left wing. It was the Georgian’s 12th goal since returning to Lorraine in January – having virtually single-handedly dragged the team out of the direct relegation zone, Les Grenats’ main man was stepping when the team needed him more than ever.

Spirited as their response was to going a man down so early on, Bölöni’s men did eventually run out of steam towards the end of the half – with the visitors taking advantage to level the tie before the break. The equaliser would come from defender Léo Pétrot, who converted from close range after Dylan Chambost’s corner was nodded on to the back post by Aïmen Moueffek.

Olivier Dall’Oglio’s men would continue to assert control over the game after the break, with the physical strain of making up for a missing player increasingly taking a toll for Metz – their fatigue showing in particular when it came to launching counter-attacks. Saint-Étienne substitute Yvann Maçon appeared to have put the visitors back ahead halfway through the second half, converting a follow-up shot into an empty net after Ibrahim Sissoko collided with Metz shot-stopper Alexandre Oukidja. The goal would eventually be ruled out after a lengthy VAR check.

Although Saint-Étienne carved out a handful of chances, the hosts eventually managed to hold out for extra-time. Arthur Atta would nearly make himself the hero just minutes after the restart, the substitute seeing his Rabah Madjer-esque backheel kept out of the bottom corner by Larsonneur’s fingertips.

The goal that clinched promotion for the visitors would come three minutes from time, as Nathanaël Mbuku found his fellow substitute Ibrahima Wadji on the penalty spot for an open-goal finish. It was a timely first goal of the campaign for the Senegalese striker – he had missed most of the season with a succession of injuries – to seal Les Verts’ return to the top flight after two years away.

With a long-awaited takeover seemingly immiment, the ten-time Ligue 1 champions go up in ostensibly good shape – even if they had to take the long way around to clinch their return. For Metz, meanwhile, a summer uncertainty awaits – not least with Mikautadze and Bölöni’s likely departures – as the club suffers relegation to the second tier for the 7th time in 25 seasons.

Metz lineup: Alexandre Oukidja – Koffi Kouao (replaced by Maxime Colin, 84′), Ismaël Traoré (replaced by Fali Candé, 70′), Sadibou Sané, Matthieu Udol – Ablie Jallow (replaced by Arthur Atta, 46′), Kévin N’Doram, Lamine Camara (replaced by Danley Jean-Jacques, 90′), Papa Diallo (sent off, 5′)- Georges Mikautadze, Didier Lamkel Zé (replaced by Kévin van den Kerkhof, 70′).

Saint-Étienne lineup: Gautier Larsonneur – Dennis Appiah, Dylan Batubinsika, Mickaël Nadé, Léo Petrot (replaced by Yvann Maçon, 57′) – Aïmen Moueffek (replaced by Thomas Monconduit, 57′), Florian Tardieu, Dylan Chambost – Irvin Cardona (replaced by Mahmoud Bentayg, 102′), Ibrahim Sissoko, Mathieu Cafaro (replaced by Nathanaël Mbuku, 79′).

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin – from the Stade Saint-Symphorien, Longeville-lès-Metz