Rodez AF claimed all three points at Annecy FC on Saturday, securing a 2-0 win built on defensive authority. At the heart of that performance was centre-back Loni Laurent, who won 14 of his 16 duels across 90 minutes and helped keep the hosts scoreless.
Laurent's dominance was total. He won seven aerial contests and rarely lost a physical challenge, giving Annecy's attackers little room to work. His 7.6 match rating reflected a day when everything stuck: interceptions, clearances, and the kind of one-on-one wins that snuff out danger before it develops.
Rodez, playing away, needed that solidity. Annecy pressed but found no way through a backline marshalled by the 14-duel man. By full time, the visitors had their goals and a clean sheet, and Laurent had stamped his name on the result.
It was the sort of afternoon defenders dream about: total control, no mistakes, and a win to show for it. Rodez move on with three points and a reminder that sometimes the simplest formula, defended with conviction, is still the best.