ASSE faced Reims for the return of League 1. A meeting which was for the sixteenth day of the championship. Eirik Horneland offered their coach a great first with a valuable victory (3-1). Like every week, here are the tops and flops of this contested meeting at Geoffroy Guichard.
ASSE wanted to bounce back after 4 defeats in all competitions and the least we can say is that the Greens put the ingredients in place from the start of the match.
A first with a bitter taste
Saint-Étienne is determined to celebrate this transition in 2025 in the best possible way.
From the 3rd minute, Bouchouari fired a shot which narrowly went over the Reims goal. Reims responds… Munetsi places a header off target.
The Greens are very dangerous and outpace their opponents in the evening. Stassin finds Cafaro in the area, but the strike does not worry Diouf: the Reims goalkeeper. Shortly after, Stassin, again, was thrown deep, in vain.
The opportunities are piling up for the Stéphanois. Mouton finds the post. A few moments later, Cafaro, well served by Bouchouari, came up against Diouf.
But domination is not won. Shortly before the break, on a rapid attack, Nakamura, alone at the far post, deceives Larsonneur's vigilance. 1-0 for Reims at half-time.
A perfect second half
The Greens did not collapse, on the contrary… In the 48th minute Nadé recovered the ball, projected himself and managed to combine with his team. The defender adjusts a precise cross at the far post for Boakye, who concludes. 1-1.
Ten minutes later, the Stéphanois will be rewarded once again. Mouton serves Stassin perfectly in depth which shifts Boakye. The latter scores a double. 2-1 for ASSE.
The match closes. Reims will try to come back, but the Greens are united. Five minutes from time, Stassin again and again is launched on the edge of offside, and offers a high-class individual action by lobbing the goalkeeper with a flick. 3-1, the score will no longer change! Here are the tops and flops of this match
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The tops of ASSE
Lucas Stassin
The Belgian undoubtedly had his best match since his arrival. Author of a goal and an assist, Stassin struck gold this evening. He showed himself to be very available and above all dangerous for his opponents. The Greens striker was truly poison this Saturday afternoon!
Augustine Boakye
He also had his best match in Forez. Author of a double, the Saint-Etienne right winger allowed his team to first come back to the score before allowing ASSE to take the advantage. Enough to give him confidence for the rest of the season!
A transfigured team
Who would have believed it? The Greens delivered a very encouraging performance for the rest of the season. ASSE clearly did not have the appearance of a team 16th in Ligue 1. And this is undoubtedly thanks to the arrival and the energy put in by Eirik Horneland. Which already seems to have an effect on his men. All the lights are on the Greens more than ever for the Norwegian and his men who are 14th while waiting for the rest of this Ligue 1 day
ASSE’s flops
A goal conceded
Fortunately, it had no impact on the final score. But this goal which arrived before half-time is very frustrating because yes, the Ligiens clearly would not have deserved to take it as Reims was in great difficulty at Geoffroy-Guichard. But the main thing is the final victory and even more so when the way is there!
Both kops closed
Another small downside is obviously the absence of the Saint-Etienne ultras during this match. As a reminder, the latter suffered two tough matches following the use of pyrotechnic devices during the 32nd final lost against OM 0-4. They should be back when they host Rennes on February 9.
Quentin Verchere
