CAEN, France (Interstat) — Caen scored twice in the final eight minutes to defeat La Roche 2-1 on Thursday at Stade Michel d’Ornano, overcoming a one-goal deficit and securing a home victory in Ligue 3. The match turned late after La Roche had controlled much of the scoreboard through the second half.

La Roche took the lead in the 43rd minute when Mouhamadou Mansour Samb scored. Moise Mahop provided the assist on the goal. Samb was also shown a yellow card in the 21st minute. Caen’s Zacharie Bagbema was booked in the 20th minute, and Caen’s Lionel Carole received a yellow card in the 51st minute. The cards added tension to a match that remained tight into the closing stages. The first half ended with La Roche ahead 1-0, and Caen trailed at the break.

Caen pushed for an equalizer after the break and changed its attacking options. Mathis Daffot scored in the 83rd minute to pull the home side level. Keelyan Portut then scored in the 88th minute to complete the comeback. La Roche could not find a response before the final whistle, and Caen claimed the win. The late sequence stunned the visitors, who had led since the 43rd minute and had defended that advantage for much of the second half.

Caen made substitutions in the 56th minute, bringing on Saivet H. and Botella I., and again in the 64th minute with Kimboma J. and Gnanduillet A. Bagbema Z. was replaced in the 77th minute. La Roche made its first change in the 57th minute with Vrignon M., followed by Araujo A. in the 65th minute and Beaulieu J. and Lamy H. in the 82nd minute. The changes gave both teams fresh legs during a fast finish. Both sides used their benches as the match opened up in the final half-hour.

Caen’s Keelyan Portut played 34 minutes and scored one goal. La Roche’s Mouhamadou Mansour Samb played 90 minutes, scored one goal and received a yellow card. Caen’s Mathis Daffot played 26 minutes and scored one goal. La Roche’s Moise Mahop played 90 minutes and provided one assist. Caen’s Lionel Carole played 90 minutes, provided one assist and received a yellow card. Their contributions shaped the key moments of the match. Portut’s goal was the decisive score, while Daffot’s strike pulled Caen level and set up the final push.

The result moved Caen’s record in the competition to seven wins and four losses, also its record across all competitions. La Roche’s record in the competition is now two wins and one loss, also its record across all competitions. Caen’s recent form included a 3-2 loss at Fleury 91 and a 3-2 home win over Rouen. The club also lost 2-0 at Concarneau, beat Paris 13 2-0 at home, won 2-0 at Bourg Peronnas, lost 1-0 at home to Bastia, beat Aubagne 1-0 at home, lost 4-3 at Thionville and beat Valenciennes 4-0 at home. The win continued Caen’s strong start in the competition and handed La Roche its first loss in the competition this season.

La Roche had won 3-1 at home against Aubagne and 2-1 at Thionville. Caen’s schedule will next include a home match against La Roche-sur-Y in Ligue 3, followed by a trip to Le Puy Foot 43, a home match against Versailles, a trip to Amiens, a home match against Cannes, a trip to Orleans, a home match against Quevilly-Rouen, a trip to Villefranche, a home match against Thionville and a trip to Aubagne.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of La Roche 2, Caen 1, and its ELO system gave La Roche a 74.6 percent probability to win. Caen had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 0.25. The total score of 3 went over the over/under line of 3.25.