Match opening
The match began in a tense atmosphere, with Nantes supporters returning to the Beaujoire after the closure of the Loire Tribune. In the 4th minute, Killian Corredor opened the score by cutting a pass from Mathieu Cafaro, diving to score. Ibrahima Baldé responded quickly, beating Lucas Perrin in the six-meter box to outwit Dupé on a pass from Ryan Ponti, scoring the 15th minute. Corredor then extended the Canaries' lead with a one-two with Wilitty Younoussa, giving the 24th minute.
Rodez's dominance
At the 26th minute, Baldé had already scored his first goal, but the Nantes striker was not far from the hat-trick. The player recruited from Darmstadt, who had passed through Rodez, had to give up his place to Dehmaine Tabibou, who was injured on the right thigh before halftime. In the second half, a shot from Ponti on the left side deflected and fooled Dupé, giving the 47th minute. Herba Guirassy scored for Nantes, but the goal was cancelled for a foul on Raphaël Lipinski at the 55th minute. Mathis Touho missed the target against Dupé at the 58th minute.
Match finish
Baldé punished the Canaries in two minutes, striking a powerful 30-meter shot that Dupé missed at the 71st minute, then shooting deep to beat the Nantes goalkeeper, stunning the Beaujoire at the 73rd minute. The whistles fell from the stands, and Michel Der Zakarian's players could not recover. Finally, Saïdou Sow scored against his own team at the 90+5 minute, completing Rodez's fifth goal. The Nantes side remains at the bottom of the table after three consecutive defeats.
Impact
This defeat strengthens Rodez's position in the table, while Nantes continues to fight to avoid relegation. The hat-trick by Baldé underscores Rodez's dominance in this decisive match.
