Angers claim first win in 6-goal thriller against ASSE
Match Reports
Angers fans have waited a while for their first win of the season, but they got it in style in six-goal thriller at Stade Raymond Kopa.
Goals from Himad Abdelli, Jean-Eudes Aholou, Ibrahim Niane, and Bamba Dieng secured Angers' first win of the season at home to a combative Saint-Étienne side. Despite a marvellous performance and brace from Zuriko Davitashvili, Les Verts would fall to another defeat on the road.
It was an action-packed first half at Stade Raymond Kopa, with three goals scored in the first 45 minutes. Himad Abdelli opened the scoring early on, served by Jim Allevinah and struck the ball low into the back of the net for his third goal of the season (7').
A Dramatic first 20 minutes
Les Verts would react quickly, getting the chance to level after a penalty was given away by Jordan Lefort on Stassin. Zuriko Davitashvili would step up to take the spot kick, but Yahia Fofana saved brilliantly onto the post. Yet the ball would deflect outwards and Boakye managed to chip the ball back in into the net and past Fofana with the help of the post. Yet, after VAR review, the penalty was ordered to be retaken by Davitashvili after Fofana was found off his line. This time the Georgian would make no mistake, striking the ball in the same direction and converting in dramatic fashion (16').
The game then calmed into a pattern of defence and attack between the two sides, with Angers coming close when Aholou almost converted his half volley from close range. Les Angevins then grabbed their second of the game after some end to end action, with Jean-Eudes Aholou finishing a messy array of chances inside the Sainté box (38'). A first goal in Ligue 1 for the 30-year-old Ivorian defensive midfielder.
Davitashvili magic, but Angers the winner
The second half came and the erratic pace of the game would continue. Davitashvili then grabbed his second goal of the game from range, with a huge deflection which wrong-footed Fofana and flew into the back of the net to level proceedings (57'). Saint-Étienne's were calling for a penalty when Davitashvili's cross hit the arm of Abdelli but the protests were waved away by the referee. Once again, the game opened up as both sides pushed to try and get a winner. Davitashvili was on fire. His mazy run from midfield almost ended in him grabbing a hatrick, but his strike was just wide of Fofana's left post.
Farid El Meilali would then turn the game upside down once more, as he drove into the box and drew the foul from Batubinska. Angers would get yet another chance to go in front, as Ibrahim Niane stepped up for the spot-kick and converted confidently past Larsonneur (69'). A crucial goal for SCO, who looked on course for their first win of the season.
ASSE of course were pushing hard going into the final minutes of the contest, Léo Petrot's header in the 85th minute couldn't test Fofana, with Cafaro also posing a threat in the final minutes of regulation time. Yet, Bamba Dieng would punish Les Verts for their poor defending, as he raced through on goal profiting off a missed clearance from Abdelhamid and finishing low past Larsonneur (90+3').
Angers can celebrate a first win of the season, and a second win in 14 games against Les Verts. After some promising form with draws against Marseille and Toulouse, they finally grab a deserved first victory for the 2024-2025 campaign.
MATCH REACTION
Zuriko Davitashvili - "It's hard because we had opportunities to win this game but that is football. We need to learn, but I think the next game will be better for us. We need more confidence to play, our situation is difficult, both teams had opportunities to score and we didn't score our chances."
THE STAT - The Famous Four
Angers won their first match in all competitions since a 2-1 win at Annecy on 10 May 2024. It is also the first time SCO have scored more than three goals in a Ligue 1 match since a 4-1 win over Bordeaux in May 2022.
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