Saint-Étienne overthrows Reims for the premiere of Horneland

A successful first. For the first match of Eirik Horneland – who succeeded Olivier Dall'Oglio – on the Stéphanois bench, AS Saint-Etienne won this Saturday afternoon, at home, against Stade de Reims (3 -1), during the 16th day of Ligue 1, after being behind. The Greens entered the match perfectly, establishing stifling pressure and cleanly bringing the ball out from behind. They were able to create several clear chances, notably through Louis Mouton (31st) and (especially) Mathieu Cafaro (21st, 36th), but lacked realism.

An inefficiency which the Rémois were able to take advantage of. Indeed, just before the break, on one of their rare forays into the last third of Saint-Etienne, Luka Elsner's men opened the scoring thanks to Keito Nakamura who deceived the vigilance of Gautier Larsonneur by resuming, with a half-volley with the left foot, a cross from Aurélio Buta deflected by the opposing defense (42nd). The Champenois thus returned to the locker room with a goal in advance.

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Ligue 1: Saint-Étienne overthrows Reims for Horneland's first

Back from the break, AS Saint-Etienne was once again very enterprising. A profitable strategy. From the 50th minute of play, after a breakthrough on the left, Mickaël Nadé – who was playing in central defense! – crossed at the far post for Augustine Boakye who finished, calmly, with his right foot. A few minutes later, on a lightning counter-attack, Lucas Stassin, found in depth, offered a caviar to Augustine Boakye – him again – who sent the ball, forcefully, into the left corner of Yehvann Diouf (57th).

In the last third of the match, Stade de Reims tried everything to equalize, bringing in, in particular, Teddy Thomas. In vain. The Forez club turned its back… And at the end of the match, Lucas Stassin sealed the fate of the match by scoring a solo goal of great beauty, including an inside hook to eliminate a defender in the area of repair and a little ladle with the right foot to beat, again, the Reims goalkeeper (80th). With this victory, the Greens give themselves some breathing space and temporarily move up to 14th place in the rankings. Stade de Reims, for its part, remains 10th.