RODEZ, France (Interstat) — Rodez opened its Ligue 2 campaign with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Amiens AC U19 on Friday, overcoming a halftime deficit with a second-half surge at Stade Paul Lignon.

The match, played April 17, 2026, defied a dominant statistical projection that heavily favored the home side, instead delivering a tense contest decided by impactful substitutions.

Amiens AC U19, the visiting youth side, stunned the home crowd by taking an early lead. Midfielder Octave Joly found the net in just the fifth minute, capitalizing on an assist from Mathis Saka to put the underdogs ahead.

Rodez responded quickly, leveling the score in the 16th minute. Substitute Wakis Koré, who entered the match early, announced his influence immediately by scoring a goal assisted by fellow substitute Kylian Kaïboué.

The visitors, however, reclaimed the advantage before the half-hour mark. Another substitute, Ilyes Hamache, put Amiens AC U19 back in front at 2-1 with a 29th-minute strike, assisted by the active Koré.

The first half concluded with a flurry of yellow cards. Kaïboué was booked in first-half stoppage time, followed shortly after the restart by Koré in the 48th minute, setting a physical tone for the remainder of the match.

Rodez emerged from the break with renewed purpose and found its equalizer in the 66th minute. Forward Taïryk Arconte finished the play, scoring a crucial goal off an assist from defender Mathis Magnin to knot the score at 2-2.

The decisive moment came from the penalty spot. Rodez forward Ibrahima Baldé converted a penalty kick late in the match to complete the comeback and secure the 3-2 victory for the home side.

The game’s closing stages saw additional cautions for Rodez’s Magnin in the 80th minute and Amiens AC U19’s Saka deep in second-half stoppage time.

The result gave Rodez a winning start to its Ligue 2 season, moving its record to 1 win and 0 losses in the competition and across all competitions. Amiens AC U19 began its campaign with a loss, moving to 0 wins and 1 loss both in Ligue 2 and overall.

The final score surpassed the goal total projected by Interstat’s game simulator, which had predicted a 2-1 Rodez victory. The outcome also validated, albeit narrowly, the firm pre-match analytics from Interstat’s ELO system, which gave Rodez a 95.30 percent probability to win.

Key performances off the bench defined the match. Rodez’s Wakis Koré provided a pivotal goal and an assist, while Kylian Kaïboué contributed an assist. For Amiens AC U19, Ilyes Hamache’s first-half goal provided a temporary lead that ultimately could not be sustained against the home side’s persistent pressure.