Boulogne claimed a gritty 1-0 victory against Amiens at the Stade de la Licorne on Friday night, riding a moment of second-half brilliance and a stout defensive display after an early red card reshaped the contest. Adrien Pinot’s 49th-minute header, set up by Luka Boiteau, broke the deadlock and proved decisive as Boulogne pulled off a crucial win in their fight to escape the Ligue 2 relegation zone.

The match’s complexion shifted dramatically just 21 minutes after kickoff. Amiens midfielder Ibrahima Fofana was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge—an inflection point that left the home side with a numerical advantage for over an hour. Boulogne, badly in need of points, responded by tightening their formation and looking to spring counterattacks through the industry of Boiteau and the pace out wide.

Despite the extra man, Amiens struggled to pry open a disciplined Boulogne back line, with Pinot anchoring the defense before emerging as the night’s unlikely hero. Four minutes into the second half, Boulogne earned a free kick on the right flank. Boiteau’s curling delivery found Pinot in space, and the defender directed a powerful header past Paul Bernardoni for his first goal of the campaign. The Boulogne bench exploded; every point is vital for a club creeping above the drop zone.

Shortly after the breakthrough, tensions flared. Boulogne’s Sébastien Duflos was booked for a tactical foul in first-half stoppage time, and Amiens’ Ababacar Lo received a yellow just two minutes after the go-ahead goal. Amiens manager Omar Daf rang the changes, sending on Rayan Lutin, Thomas Monconduit, and others in a bid for an equalizer. But Boulogne’s deep-lying block, marshaled by Pinot and substitute Gabin Capuano, held firm through a tense final quarter-hour.

Amiens, who had entered the night looking to solidify their mid-table standing, saw their attack blunted by Boulogne’s organization and their own numerical imbalance. The few opportunities that arose fell to Thomas Averlant and Yann Ikia Dimi, but neither could find a way past Boulogne keeper Max Uriev.

As the final whistle sounded, Boulogne’s players celebrated a rare away win—one that could resonate deeply in their bid for Ligue 2 survival. Pinot’s towering performance, capped by a match-winning goal, stood out in a contest defined more by resilience than flair. For Amiens, a frustrating night under the Licorne lights marked by missed chances and early indiscipline raises questions about their consistency going forward.

Highlights of the match, including Pinot’s decisive goal and crucial defensive moments, are available on the official WinTipsFootball YouTube channel, which boasts over 85,000 followers and provides a trusted recap of the key events.