Damien Durand signs contract extension with Red Star after hat-trick heroics
Red Star forward Damien Durand has signed a contract extension with the club, following a match-winning hat-trick that secured a dramatic 4-3 victory over SC Bastia. The announcement came immediately after the final whistle of the Ligue 2 match, which also marked Durand's 200th appearance for the Parisian club. The new deal, the financial terms of which were not disclosed, was confirmed by the club in a post-match statement.
The striker's decisive performance, which included a 58th-minute penalty to complete his hat-trick, was the catalyst for a remarkable comeback. Red Star had been 3-1 down before Durand's heroics inspired a 4-3 victory, a result that lifts the club to fourth place in the Ligue 2 table. The win keeps their automatic promotion hopes alive, moving them within striking distance of the automatic promotion places.
Durand, who joined the club in 2020, has been a pivotal figure for Red Star, and his new commitment is a significant boost for their promotion ambitions. The 28-year-old's performance and subsequent contract announcement were the perfect conclusion to his milestone 200th appearance, a fact celebrated by the club and fans in the post-match celebrations. The club's official social media channels released a statement, saying the extension was a 'priority' and a 'key part of the sporting project'.
The context of the match adds weight to Durand's achievement. Bastia, fighting to avoid relegation, had taken a commanding 3-1 lead with goals from Guevara and Tomi, as well as an own goal, before Durand's intervention. His equalizer and the subsequent winner from teammate Hacène Benali in the 86th minute completed a stunning turnaround, leaving Bastia rooted to the bottom of the table. The result leaves Bastia four points from safety, while Red Star's victory applies pressure on the teams above them in a tightly contested promotion race.
The extension of Durand's stay is a major statement of intent from the club, which is seeking a return to Ligue 1 for the first time since the 1970s. His goalscoring form, highlighted by the hat-trick, has been crucial in their push for promotion, and securing his future is seen as a key piece of the club's long-term strategy. The result and the contract news provide a significant morale boost as the season enters its decisive phase.
