by Saint-Etienne was relegated from Ligue 1 after losing a play-off to Auxerre in a penalty shoot-out.
The defeat led to a field invasion by angry Etienne fans, with many flares in the main stands and towards the players tunnel.
Police armed with shields and batons used tear gas to disperse supporters.
The loss puts an end to an 18-year top flight for the ten-time French champion and a return for Auxerre after a 10-year absence.
After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Auxerre’s Hamza Sakhi opened the score before Saint-Etienne’s Mahdi Camara equalized.
That equalized with penalties. Auxerre goalkeeper Donovan Leon saved from Ryad Boudebou, giving Birama Toure a chance to make it 5-4 in the shoot-out and win for the Ligue 2 side.
He made no mistake and as soon as the ball settled into the goal, the fans rushed onto the field.
Players fled to the safety of the locker rooms as police tried to quell the problems.
It was just the last ugly scenes in Saint-Etienne’s Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. The club has been penalized several times this season for problems with the public and Sunday’s game was played with closed stands following unrest during a game against Monaco last month.
Lineups
Saint Etienne
Formation 4-4-2
- 50Bernardonia
- 14sackois replaced byAntunes da SilvaBee 58′minutes
- 2Moukoudic
- 22mangala
- 13Trauco
- 17Aouchicheis replaced byNordinBee 58′minutes
- 28youssoufis replaced byDiusséBee 110′minutes
- 8Camarais replaced byMoueffekBee 80′minutes
- 20Bouanga
- 21Hamoumais replaced byBoudebouzBee 80′minutes
- 10Khazricis replaced byCrivellicBee 62′minutes
deputies
- 3After the
- 7Boudebouz
- 11Antunes da Silva
- 18Nordin
- 25Diussé
- 26sako
- 29Moueffek
- 31Crivellic
- 40Vegetable
Auxerre
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 16Leon
- 2Arcus
- 4Mendes Junior
- 5Pellenard
- 3Bernardus
- 12toureBooked at 89 minutes
- 7heinis replaced bySinayokoBee 75′minutes
- 27Trouilletis replaced byperrinBee 64′minutes
- 22Sakhiis replaced bycoeffBee 83′minutes
- 29Autretis replaced byDugimontBee 95′minutes
- 19Charbonnier
deputies
- 6Ndom
- 10perrin
- 14Ben Fredj
- 17Lloris
- 20coeff
- 21Dugimont
- 25Sinayoko
- 26Joly
- 40The Percin
live text
-
Match ends, Saint Etienne 1(4), Auxerre 1(5).
-
Penalty Shootout ends, Saint Etienne 1(4), Auxerre 1(5).
-
Goal! Saint Etienne 1(4), Auxerre 1(5). Birama Touré (Auxerre) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
-
Goal! Saint Etienne 1(4), Auxerre 1(4). Denis Bouanga (Saint-Etienne) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
-
Goal! Saint Etienne 1(3), Auxerre 1(4). Gaëtan Charbonnier (Auxerre) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
-
Goal! Saint Etienne 1(3), Auxerre 1(3). Assane Dioussé (Saint-Etienne) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
-
Goal! Saint Etienne 1(2), Auxerre 1(3). Gaetan Perrin (Auxerre) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top left corner.
-
Goal! Saint Etienne 1(2), Auxerre 1(2). Miguel Trauco (Saint-Etienne) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.
-
Goal! Saint Etienne 1(1), Auxerre 1(2). Jubal (Auxerre) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
-
Goal! Saint Etienne 1(1), Auxerre 1(1). Arnaud Nordin (Saint-Etienne) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
-
Goal! Saint Etienne 1, Auxerre 1(1). Rémy Dugimont (Auxerre) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
-
Penalty kick saved! Ryad Boudebouz (Saint-Etienne) loses this great opportunity, left footed shot saved in the top right corner.
-
Penalty Shootout begins Saint-Etienne 1, Auxerre 1.
-
Second Half Extra time ends, Saint-Etienne 1, Auxerre 1.
-
Attempt saved. Arnaud Nordin (Saint Etienne) right footed shot from the center of the box is saved to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Assane Diousse.
-
Lassine Sinayoko (Auxerre) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
-
Foul by Aïmen Moueffek (Saint-Etienne).
-
Foul by Gaetan Charbonnier (Auxerre).
-
Assane Dioussé (Saint-Etienne) wins a free kick in the backcourt.
-
Corner, Saint Etienne. Caused by Carlens Arcus.
