St Étienne suffered a narrow 2–1 defeat away to Rodez in Ligue 2, despite a late goal from Maltese international Irvin Cardona. The loss, however, does little damage to their league standing, as they remain in third place in the table.

Rodez took control of the match with two well-taken goals, putting the hosts in a strong position for much of the contest. St Étienne struggled to break down a disciplined defence and create clear-cut opportunities throughout the game.

Irvin Cardona, who started on the bench, was introduced as a substitute and made an immediate impact. The forward found the net just a minute before full-time, scoring a consolation goal that at least gave the visitors something to take from the match.

Cardona has been in excellent form in recent weeks, consistently delivering strong performances and proving to be an important asset for St Étienne. His late goal in this fixture further highlights his growing influence within the squad.

Despite the setback, St Étienne remain firmly in contention near the top of the Ligue 2 standings, with plenty still to play for as the season progresses.