ASSE won through to the Europa League group stage as an heroic shootout effort from 'keeper Stéphane Ruffier saw the club beat Kardemir Karabükspor in the second leg of their play-off tie 4-3 on penalties (1-1 on aggregate).
Thursday, August 28, 2014
UEFA Europa League play-offs, second leg
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne
AS Saint-Etienne 1 - 0 Kardemir Karabükspor (1-1 on agg., ASSE through 4-3 on penalties)
There were wild scenes at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard as France 'keeper Ruffier saved his second penalty of the tense shootout after Kévin Monnet-Paquet had levelled the tie with a stinging volley in the 13th minute.
A goal down after a shock 1-0 defeat in the first leg in Turkey last Thursday, Saint-Etienne came into the match knowing they needed to score, and the early goal did their confidence no end of good in front of a packed home stadium who had been waiting six long years since Les Verts had last qualified for European competition, and who had had to watch their side fall to Esbjorg at this stage of the competition last season.
Open
Still, with the tie levelled, Saint-Etienne had it all to do and although Max-Alain Gradel came close to what would have been a winning goal minutes later, the Côte d'Ivoire international's shot from the edge of the area was an inch or two wide (16') and the remained open.
However, Christophe Galtier's men seemed to task their foot off the gas for the rest of the ninety minutes, allowing Karabükspor to get back in to the match and try their luck, although as the tie remained level 1-1 at 90 minutes, extra time ensued.
Les Verts swing into action
But the end-game scenario woke Les Verts up, and new Dutch signing Ricky Van Wolfswinkel had a gilt-edged opportunity as he latched onto Renaud Cohade's stunning pass and rounded his man - and the 'keeper - only to misfire with the finish andsee his effrt cleared off the line by Tanju Kayhan (99').
Chances followed Franck Tabanou (105') and Monnet-Paquet (118'), and even though they didn't make the break, the momentum was on Saint-Etienne's side as the home crowd settled in for the nerve-wracking experience of a penalty shoot-out.
Ruffier the hero
With each side scoring their first three shots, Jérémy Clément sent a shockwave through the stadium as his shot was stopped, but Ruffier saved Karabükspor's fourth to level the shoot-out. Gradel then duly slammed his penalty in off the cross-bar, paving the way for Ruffier to pick the right direction and save Ahmet Özek's spot-kick to send Les Verts into the Europa League group stage - and the club's fans into raptures.
