Lille stuns Auxerre
AJA was no doubt hoping for a more festive reunion with Ligue 1. After ten years of purgatory in L2, the Auxerrois lived through hell in the furnace of the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, facing the Dogues, or rather the Lille Cerberes.
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From the 36th second, at the conclusion of a superb collective movement, Benjamin André deceived Benoît Costil with a cross shot from the right, on a heeling delivery from Jonathan David. Decisive passer, the Canadian striker doubled the lead two minutes later, with a curling shot from the left, after setting Quentin Bernard on a pass from Rémy Cabella (3rd).
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Struggling to get the ball out, the Burgundian team again gave in on a defensive error. Intercepting an uncertain back pass from Brayann Pereira, Cabella crossed for David who only had to push the ball into the empty goal (38th).
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Punished by a fourth Lille goal signed by former Clermontois Akim Zededka with a volley from the right that Julian Jeanvier could only extend into the net (63rd), the Auxerrois saved the honor by Gaëtan Charbonnier found in depth by Bernard (67th).
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Teji Savanier releases Montpellier
Montpellier and Troyes put on a show at La Mosson, going blow for blow at the start of the match. Stunned by Théo Sainte-Luce’s first goal in Ligue 1 (2nd), the Aube formation equalized by Florian Tardieu from the penalty spot (11th), sanctioning a push from Mamadou Sakho on Yoann Salmier. Three minutes later, Trojan goalkeeper Gauthier Gallon, disturbed by Elye Wahi and Erik Palmer-Brown in front of him, remained frozen on his feet and saw a crushed shot from Téji Savanier end up in the net (14th). Bruno Irles’ men responded immediately with a sumptuous right volley from Mama Baldé upon receiving a cross from Danish rookie Andreas Bruus (16′).
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6
It had been 6 years since 4 goals had been scored after less than 20 minutes of play in L1, since OM-Rennes (2-5), on March 18, 2016.
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The Trojans could have taken the advantage before the break by Mama Baldé, taking advantage of a hesitation from Sakho, but Jonas Omlin was on the parade (45th + 1).
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While the teams neutralized each other, Savanier released the Hérault club on a brilliant inspiration. On a cross from Nicolas Cozza, the captain of the MHSC took the ball without control with the flat foot and found the top corner of Gallon (81st). Omlin preserved the victory in added time, deflecting a recovery from Baldé (90th + 2) with the end of the glove.
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Florian Sotoca strikes three times
Lens defeated the Indian sign of recovery. The Sang et Or, who had not won any of their last six Ligue 1 opening matches (5 losses, 1 draw) dominated Brest (3-2). Florian Sotoca’s first hat-trick of his career thrilled Bollaert-Delelis (29th, 62nd, 64th). The Lensois striker could even have afforded a quadruple but Marco Bizot masterfully repelled his penalty (33rd).
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Despite this clear advantage, the Lensois were scared. Haris Belkebla reduced the score with a long shot deflected from the head by Kevin Danso (65th). Unhappy on this blow, the Lensois defender then provoked a penalty by hanging a Brest striker on a corner. Romain Del Castillo failed for the first time on Brice Samba but was offered a new chance by the VAR, a Lensois having entered the area too early. The second attempt was the right one (85th) but Lens, supported by its public, held its victory.
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Angers and Nantes neutralize each other
In its renovated setting of Raymond-Kopa and its brand new Saint-Léonard stand, the SCO failed to find the fault against Nantes (0-0). If the Pays de la Loire derby ended in a clean sheet, it owes it largely to the performances of the two goalkeepers. Canaris goalkeeper Alban Lafont made 7 saves against Angers, his highest total in L1 since last February against PSG (8) where he had been the great architect of Nantes’ success (3-1).
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Back in favor with Gérald Baticle after his six-month loan to Saint-Étienne at the end of last season, Paul Bernardoni, preferred to Le Havre rookie Yahia Fofana, was also in a state of grace, repelling several attempts by Ludovic Blas (57th, 68th) or Nicolas Pallois (70th) to preserve his clean sheet.
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