On March 15, 2025, the Stade Lavallois Mayenne Football Club delivered one of the most surprising performances of the Ligue 2 season as they defeated Paris FC by a decisive score of 3-0 at the Francis Le Basser stadium. This match, part of the twenty-seventh matchday of the league, showcased the ambition of the Laval side, who moved to sixth place with 43 points, just two points away from breaching the coveted Top 5.
The game kicked off with both teams eager to secure three points, but it was Laval who opened the scoring. Shortly after the 18th minute, Malik Tchoukounté found the back of the net, capitalizing on a rebound after Paris FC's goalkeeper Obed Nkambadio saved Sellouki's initial effort. Tchoukounté was quick to follow up and slotted home the ball from close range, putting Laval 1-0 up.
Paris FC, co-leaders of the league before the match and hoping to consolidate their position, responded with intensity. Just two minutes after conceding, Dicko had the chance to even the score with a powerful shot, but it was expertly deflected by Laval's goalkeeper, Mamadou Samassa, preventing Paris from leveling the match.
Close to half-time, Laval maintained their momentum. Nkambadio had to come up big with another save, denying Zohi's volley from corner kick and keeping the Paris side within reach. The teams went to the locker rooms with Laval holding onto their slender lead.
After the break, both teams returned with renewed vigor, but it was Laval who struck again. Just after the start of the second half, Sellouki doubled the advantage for Laval with another opportunistic effort, catching the Paris defense napping. His volley found the net after a well-placed cross, making the score 2-0 just two minutes after the 48th minute.
Paris FC, desperate for goals, attempted to pivot the match back to their favor. Players like Lopez were making runs to penetrate the Laval defense, but Laval's disciplined approach with a solid backline paid off. Instead of reducing the deficit, Paris found themselves on the back foot again as Tchoukounté scored his second goal of the match just seven minutes later, eleveting Laval's lead to 3-0.
With Paris struggling to find their footing, Laval showcased more attacking flair, creating several more opportunities. Enzo Montet had his shot saved splendidly by Nkambadio as Laval kept pushing for more goals, demonstrating their offensive prowess and tactical discipline set by coach Olivier Frapolli.
Despite hoping to salvage their reputation, Paris FC was unable to recover from this crushing defeat. Their means of attack faltered throughout the match, being stifled by Laval's strategic and cohesive play, and with this loss, Paris slipped to third place with 52 points.
This defeat was particularly damaging as it denied Paris FC the chance to go top of the league, especially when considering Metz snatched victory against Dunkerque, leaving the Parisians with more to ponder as they headed back to the drawing board.
"Laval’s tactics were spot on today. They executed their game plan flawlessly," remarked one of the analysts post-match, emphasizing how Laval’s disciplined and efficient play led to their impressive victory. The encounter underlined the unpredictable nature of Ligue 2 this season and the tightening race for promotion, with teams like Laval now firmly back within range of playoff contention.
Next, Laval will look to build on this momentum when they face Guingamp away, giving them another chance to inch closer to their playoff aspirations. For Paris FC, the upcoming weeks will be pivotal as they seek to regroup and refocus after what was their most significant defeat of the season.
This result has the potential to shape the remainder of the league, with Laval positioning themselves as challengers to the playoff spots, and Paris reflecting on their recent performances as they prepare for future fixtures.