Stassin's late header salvages point for Saint-Étienne at Nancy
Lucas Stassin scored a 97th-minute equaliser to rescue a 1-1 draw for promotion-chasing Saint-Étienne away to Nancy in Ligue 2 on Saturday. The Belgian striker's dramatic intervention maintained his side's four-point gap behind league leaders Troyes, who also drew, and extended Saint-Étienne's unbeaten run to eight matches.
Nancy had taken a shock early lead through Zakaria Fdaouch, who found the bottom corner with a precise finish in the sixth minute. The home side, fighting to secure their status in the division, defended that advantage doggedly for the majority of the contest. Saint-Étienne were awarded a penalty just before half-time, but goalkeeper Enzo Basilio saved Zuriko Davitashvili's spot-kick, repeating his heroics from a penalty stop in Nancy's previous match.
Saint-Étienne, known as Les Verts, created a series of chances to level the match in the second half. Stassin himself had spurned a significant opportunity in the 65th minute, firing over from a promising position. Substitute Joshua Duffus was also denied by Basilio, while an Irvin Cardona effort was correctly ruled out for offside in the first minute of added time. The pressure finally told in the seventh minute of stoppage time when Stassin powered home a header to snatch a point for the visitors.
The result carries significant weight in the Ligue 2 promotion race. According to the league standings, Saint-Étienne remain in second place, four points behind Troyes, who drew 2-2 with Montpellier. The point keeps Pablo Correa's side firmly in the automatic promotion hunt with the season entering its final stages. For Nancy, the late concession feels like a defeat, denying them a valuable three points in their battle against relegation, though the single point does edge them further from the drop zone.
Stassin's goal is a timely return to form for the 23-year-old forward, who has experienced a dip in front of goal recently. His physical presence and aerial ability have been key assets for Saint-Étienne since his arrival, and this crucial goal underscores his importance to the team's tactical approach. The late show of resilience will be seen as a positive sign for Correa, demonstrating his team's capacity to fight until the final whistle under pressure.
Attention now turns to the final fixtures of the campaign, where Saint-Étienne will aim to close the gap on Troyes. The draw away at a motivated Nancy side, while not ideal, could prove a valuable point gained in the context of a long season. The manner of the result, secured at the death, is likely to bolster squad morale as they prepare for the decisive run-in.
