Red Star FC stunned EA Guingamp with a resounding 3-1 victory at Stade Bauer on Saturday, marking one of the most pivotal moments of their Ligue 2 season. This match was particularly significant for the Audoniens, who were eager to break out of the bottom of the league standings. Despite Guingamp's early lead and their position fighting for promotion, the Red Star turned the tide remarkably during the second half.
Guingamp entered the match with hopes to secure points after experiencing three matches without defeat across all competitions. Their strategy to reclaim podium placement seemed promising when Junior Mendes opened the scoring for them at the 16 minute mark, marking his first start with the club. A perfectly timed assist from his teammate Labeau allowed Mendes to find the net, and the away side took the early lead.
But the night took a frustrating turn for the visitors. Surging with confidence after reaching the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France, Guingamp struggled to maintain their momentum following the quick goal. The Red Star, fueled by the home crowd, began to push back aggressively, executing their game plan to perfection. Red Star's captain Loïc Kouagba leveled the match with a well-timed header from a corner delivered just before halftime, which rejuvenated his team's spirits and gave them impetus for the impending second half.
Despite pushing hard for the equalizer, Guingamp found themselves overwhelmed by the relentless aggression of the Red Star players as the second half progressed. The Audoniens showcased much more desire to win the match, and their determination culminated with Kemo Cissé shining as the star of the show.
Having entered the match as a substitute, Cissé capitalized on defensive errors from Guingamp, finding the back of the net twice within just minutes. His first goal came at the 88th minute as he took advantage of a mistake from the Guingamp defense, and then he added another goal at the very end of stoppage time (90+3 minutes) to seal the impressive comeback and all three points for his team.
Following the match, Red Star's coach Grégory Poirier commended his team's performance, stating, "This win is very encouraging, especially after our recent run of results. We showed resilience and ability to respond when it mattered most." What was particularly compelling about this victory was the intensity Red Star brought, having previously only claimed one win from their last seven matches. They managed to keep themselves safely distanced from the relegation zone.
The result leaves Guingamp still fifth on the league table but raises concerns as they face the threat of being overtaken by teams behind them, especially after failing to secure points after four matches without victory. This period of stagnation raises questions on their ability to push for promotion to Ligue 1, especially with Metz and Dunkerque pulling away.
The final match statistics reflect the shift of momentum during the game as Red Star finished with 57% possession, clearly demonstrating their dominance as they overcame Guingamp.
Guingamp's coach Sylvain Ripoll expressed disappointment post-match, saying, "It’s tough to lose after being so close to victory. We need to regroup and find our form again before it’s too late. We had opportunities but just didn’t capitalize on them, and our defensive lapses were costly." With their upcoming matches against Amiens, Ajaccio, Rodez and Troyes, January will be pivotal for Red Star as they look to solidify their position and distance from the relegation battles.
Going forward, the Red Star is surely brimming with confidence as they look to build on this fantastic performance against Guingamp. If they can keep this momentum alive, they may well navigate the challenges of Ligue 2 and secure their status for another season, proving resilient against the odds themselves.