ANNE CY, France (Interstat) — A second-half goal from midfielder Alexis Casadei lifted FC Annecy to a 1-0 victory over Guingamp in a Ligue 2 match Friday at Parc des Sports, defying a pregame projection that had forecast a draw.

The closely contested match, played on April 3, 2026, saw the home side capitalize on a moment of quality in the 63rd minute to secure all three points and begin its season with a win. Guingamp, meanwhile, leaves empty-handed after a frustrating offensive display.

The game’s tempo was disrupted by a pivotal first-half incident. Guingamp midfielder Travis Patterson, already shown a yellow card in the 14th minute for a foul, was sent off with a red card in the 30th minute. His dismissal forced the visiting side to play with 10 men for the final hour of the match, significantly altering the tactical dynamic.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Guingamp’s defense held firm through the remainder of the first half and the early stages of the second. The match grew increasingly tense, reflected in a flurry of yellow cards. Guingamp substitute Albin Demouchy was booked in second-half stoppage time before the break, and fellow substitute Dylan Louiserre saw a yellow in the 56th minute.

The decisive breakthrough came just seven minutes later. The Annecy attack, patiently probing the compact Guingamp block, finally found an opening. Substitute Albin Demouchy, who had entered the match, provided the assist, sliding a pass to Casadei. The midfielder finished clinically to break the deadlock and send the home supporters into celebration.

Annecy forward Clément Billemaz, who also recorded an assist on the play, received a yellow card in the 89th minute as the match grew scrappy in the final moments. Guingamp, however, could not muster a clear response, failing to register a goal on the night.

The result defied the pregame simulation from Interstat, which had projected a 1-1 draw. The same analytics system had given Annecy a 63.1 percent probability of winning outright, a forecast that ultimately proved correct, though the path to victory was shaped by the early red card.

With the win, FC Annecy opens its Ligue 2 campaign with a victory, starting the season with one win and no losses. The club’s overall record across all competitions also stands at one win and no losses. Guingamp begins its season with a loss in both Ligue 2 and overall, standing at no wins and one loss.

The match was the first of the season for both clubs in France’s second division. Annecy will look to build on the momentum of the narrow victory, while Guingamp must regroup after a performance hampered by ill-discipline and a lack of cutting edge in front of goal.