Bamba Dieng’s stoppage-time penalty salvaged a crucial point for Angers in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Saint-Etienne, after the visitors initially surrendered a two-goal lead before mounting a late comeback in Ligue 1 action.
Angers looked in complete control early on, racing to a 2-0 advantage before Saint-Etienne mounted an impressive fightback that saw them lead 3-2 heading into the final moments.
But Dieng, displaying nerves of steel, converted a decisive penalty deep into injury time, ensuring Angers left with a hard-earned point.
The visitors wasted no time asserting their dominance, taking the lead through a swift attacking move that left Saint-Etienne’s defense flat-footed.
Angers continued to press, doubling their advantage and seemingly putting themselves on course for a vital away victory.
However, Saint-Etienne refused to fold under pressure. Inspired by their home crowd, they clawed their way back into the contest.
The turning point came midway through the second half when Saint-Etienne netted their first goal, shifting the momentum in their favor.
Minutes later, the hosts capitalized on Angers’ defensive lapses, leveling the scoreline and igniting hopes of a full comeback.
The intensity escalated as Saint-Etienne took the lead for the first time in the match, leaving Angers reeling and facing the prospect of a painful defeat.
But Angers regrouped and pushed forward in the dying minutes, desperate to avoid leaving empty-handed.
Their persistence paid off when the referee awarded a late penalty following a reckless challenge inside the box.
Dieng, under immense pressure, calmly stepped up and slotted the ball past the Saint-Etienne goalkeeper, sparking celebrations among the Angers players and traveling supporters.
“We showed character today,” Dieng said after the match. “Even when we were behind, we didn’t give up.
The team deserved this point, and it shows our fighting spirit.”
The draw offers Angers a valuable point in their quest to climb the Ligue 1 table, but the match also highlighted defensive vulnerabilities that need addressing if they are to secure a more stable position.
For Saint-Etienne, the result was a bitter pill to swallow after their spirited comeback.
Despite their impressive turnaround, conceding a late penalty denied them what would have been a crucial victory.
Angers head coach praised his team’s resilience but acknowledged the defensive lapses that almost cost them the game.
“We can’t afford to lose focus like that, especially after going two goals up. But credit to the players for fighting until the very end,” he said.
Saint-Etienne, meanwhile, will reflect on missed opportunities and the need for more composure in the closing stages of games.
Their head coach expressed frustration over the late penalty but remained optimistic about the team’s overall performance.
“We showed great character to come back from 0-2 down, but we need to be smarter in critical moments.
The penalty was avoidable, and that’s something we must improve,” he said.
With both teams walking away with a point, the result leaves the Ligue 1 standings tight as the season progresses.
Angers will look to build on this result in their next fixture, while Saint-Etienne will aim to bounce back and turn strong performances into full points.
