Recap: Meunier on target in Lille win, ASSE schooled by Le Havre
Match Reports
Lille 0-2 Angers: Two in two for Les Dogues to punish SCO
After a dramatic UEFA Champions League play-off tie against Slavia Prague, Les Dogues were aiming to make it two in two in Ligue 1 following their win away to Reims last weekend (0-2). Standing in their way: newly-promoted Angers who were hoping to bounce back from an opening weekend loss to Lens. With Ethan Mbappé given a first start by manager Bruno Génésio, LOSC would keep their run of wins going as they returned to Stade Pierre-Mauroy for the first time this season.
Thomas Meunier opened the scoring with a wonderful finish with the outside of his foot after playing one-two with Hakon Haraldsson. The Belgian was repositioned on the right wing-back position after two matches played in central defence, and he looked to re-find his attacking prowess that he was well-known for in PSG colours during his previous spell in Ligue 1.
By half-time it was clearly Les Dogues who were in the ascendancy, having already taken eight shots with five on target. Angers would get their first strike at goal in the 50th minute, with Belkhdim's header. El-Melaili would find himself in the box only five minutes later, but his strike was magnificently saved by Lucas Chevalier.
Bayo deals the final blow
SCO were pushing for an all-important equaliser and looked to be the side taking control, before Hakon Harraldsen's strike hit the post. Angers youngster Chérif found himself with a huge chance in the 73rd minute against Lucas Chevalier after an exceptional run from the 17-year-old. Yet, Chevalier once again stood tall to parry his strike away.
Yet the K.O would come for Angers, as Mohamed Bayo finished off the contest in injury time on the counter-attack after being played-in by Rémy Cabella. Another three points for LOSC to add to what is starting to look like a successful start to the season for Bruno Génésio's men.
THE STAT: AT Sixes and sevens
Lille have won each of their last six Ligue 1 matches against a promoted side, the best record of any team currently in the top flight. LOSC have scored at least two goals in each of these six wins.
Saint-Étienne 0-2 Le Havre: Les Verts schooled by HAC on home turf
Les Verts would make their long-awaited return to Geoffrey-Guichard following their promotion to Ligue 1, needing to bounce-back from an tight away loss to AS Monaco on their opening match. The first half would see both sides cancel each other out, with Le Havre starting the game on the right foot with a big chance for Ketcha, but saved brilliantly by Larsonneur. Abdoulaye Touré was next up with a huge opportunity with a header from a free-kick: the Stéphanois defence was beaten, but Touré's header looped over the bar. Sainté then went and hit the bar on one of their first chances in the game, with Cafaro weaving into the box and his powerful strike cannoning off the upright.
ASSE looked to get closer to opening the scoring with Mathis Amougou at the heart of several chances, his closest an outside of the foot strike which went wide of Desmas' right post. At half time, it was an equally-balanced affair between both sides. That would change in the second period…
touré with the Panenka
Le Havre's foray into the Sainté half saw Josué Casimir burst into the box with a turn of electric pace, and substitute Appiah would give away a penalty with a clumsy challenge with his body after losing balance. Abdoulaye Touré stepped up and confidently dispatched with a panenka to give the Ciel et Bleu the lead before the hour-mark (54').
A wake-up call for Les Verts, who then pushed harder to find an equalising goal. But against the run of play, Le Havre struck from the corner via captain Arouna Sangante for his first goal in Ligue 1 to double the lead for HAC (67').
THE STAT: IT takes Two
AS Saint-Étienne have lost their opening two matches in Ligue 1 for the first time since the 2012-2013 season. It is the first time both Sainté and rivals Olympique Lyonnais have lost their first two opening matches in Ligue 1 history.
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