Rennes defeats OFI Crete in Europa League

Stade Rennais defeated OFI Crete 2-1 at Roazhon Park on Thursday, October 15, in the second round of the Europa League. The match took place in France, where Rennes is based, and marked a crucial win for the team.

OFI Crete takes early lead

OFI Crete scored first in the 10th minute through a goal by Fountas, capitalizing on an error by Rennes' Ait Boudlal. This early goal put OFI Crete in control of the match for much of the first half.

Rennes turns the game around

Rennes equalized in the 76th minute when Mahamadou Nagida scored from outside the box. The team then took control in the final moments of the game, with Ait Boudlal scoring the winning goal in the 90th minute with a curled shot into the net.

End of a long losing streak

The victory ended a 19-match winless streak for Rennes in European competitions, a record that had been held by their coach Franck Haise. Haise had faced criticism for the losing streak, and the win was a significant relief for him and the team.

Tense match with dramatic finish

The match was described as tense, with Rennes struggling to break down OFI Crete's defense for much of the game. However, they managed to take control in the final quarter, with Nagida being the standout performer.

Key stop secures victory

Rennes' goalkeeper Christogeorgos made a crucial stop in the 89th minute to prevent a potential equalizer by OFI Crete's Dia. This allowed Ait Boudlal to score the decisive goal in the final minute, sealing the win for Rennes.