A 90th-minute penalty from Florent Malouda handed Metz a 3-2 victory over Caen in a dramatic Ligue 1 meeting at the Stade Saint-Symphorien this evening.
It took Metz just 10 minutes to break the deadlock with a swift counter-attack which ended in Modibo Maiga tapping in from Malouda's inviting cross.
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Ahmed Kashi came agonisingly close to doubling his side's advantage moments later when his 30-yard strike rattled the crossbar.
Despite falling behind early on, Caen looked dangerous when they did get players forward, and were only denied an equaliser when Johann Carrasso pushed a Lenny Nangis effort past the post.
Metz made Caen pay for not turning their pressure into goals early in the second half as Maiga latched onto a through ball from Kevin Lejeune before slotting in his second of the night.
However, Caen refused to accept defeat and put the pressure on their rivals by pulling a goal back via Jean Calve's unstoppable free kick.
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The visitors piled on the pressure in the closing stages, and they eventually scored a deserved equaliser seven minutes from time when Bengali-Fode Koita headed in from Florian Raspentino's dangerous ball into the box.
There was still time for one final twist as Alaeddine Yahia handed Metz the chance to win the game by bringing down Maiga in the box, and receiving a red card for his troubles.
Malouda stepped up from 12 yards to calmly slot home at the end of a dramatic evening.
Callum Mulvihill
