Ligue 2 Review #7: Paris FC win derby to go top, Grenoble dominant against Clermont
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Red Star FC 1-3 Paris FC: Krasso scores brace in Paris derby win
It was a heated affair for the first Red Star vs Paris FC derby to be played at Stade Bauer in over a decade and a half, but it was the visitors who earned the bragging rights and moved back to the top of the table thanks to a goal from Adama Camara and a brace from Jean-Phillipe Krasso. Camara opened the scoring with a low strike from the centre of the box (20') before Red Star's Fodé Doucouré would find a deflected equaliser to send Bauer roaring (32'). But the visitors were determined to overcome their rivals in the Northern Paris suburbs, as Red Star keeper Beunardeau fouled Krasso in the box, with the Ivorian converting the ensuing penalty to retake the lead for Les Parisiens (45+1').
PFC keeper Nkambadio would be on hand to save fantastically from Doucouré's second half attempt as the away side effectively managed the game against the promoted side. They would go one better on the break, as Jean-Phillipe Krasso tapped in Alimani Gory's cross to add daylight to the score for the visitors (57'). PFC made it two wins in a row to reclaim top spot in the Ligue 2 standings.
Grenoble 3-0 Clermont: Meïssa Ba on target as GF38 record dominant win over Clermont
Oswald Tanchot's Grenoble Foot would record their fourth win of the season in style against Clermont at home thanks to strikes from Dante Rigo, Jessy Benet, and Pape Meïssa Ba - keeping up the pressure in second place on leaders Paris FC. Rigo opened the scoring just before half-time via a fantastic volley from the edge of the box, struck sweetly on the edge of the D, which flew into the back of the net past Clermont keeper N'Diaye.
In the second half it would be N'Diaye that committed a clear foul on Meïssa Ba who was bearing down on goal, and the visitors would go down to ten men. Jessy Benet would strike the ensuing free-kick into the back of the net in emphatic fashion, as things went from bad to worse for Clermont (62'). Les Grenoblois would reach their peak as Meïssa Ba added his customary goal to the proceedings: a low finish past Théo Guivarch (85') after latching onto a reverse ball to top off a great win for the side from the Alps.
VIDEO: Stop it, Dante Rigo. 🎥
Guingamp 3-1 SM Caen: Prolific EAG move to joint-second after seeing off Caen
EAG Guingamp overcame a resistant Normand side in SM Caen to record their fourth win of the season and join Grenoble in second spot on Monday evening's kick-off. The Breton side opened the scoring within ten minutes, as Jacques Siwe turned in a header from close range to put En Avant in front (6'). Yet Les Vikings grew into the game, and forced Mandrea into a couple of saves, but it was the home side that got closest to doubling their lead in the first period when Rayan Ghrieb hit the post.
VIDEO: Pic-ard that out! 🎥
The second half saw Alexandre Mendy score his fourth goal in five games as he brilliantly headed a looped free-kick into the back of the net to equalise for Caen (51'). Yet, it was the hosts - who have been so prolific at home so far this season - who raced back into the lead via Hugo Picard's sensational run and finish from the left side of the box (67'). Taylor Luvambo added to the scoreline only 11 minutes later, as Caen failed to clear the ball and the substitute simply poked the ball into the back of the net (78').
With that Les Guingampais moved up to joint-second, keeping intact a record as one of the most prolific home sides this season with 12 goals (the exact same as Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes).
Elsewhere in Ligue 2:
- Troyes earned their first win of the season, handing top of the league Metz their first defeat of the season thanks to goals from Pape Ibnou Ba and a penalty from Renaud Ripart either side of a second half equaliser from Ismaël Traore.
- Lorient recorded a convincing win over Ajaccio (3-0) thanks to a brace from Eli Junior Kroupi and a goal from Enzo Genton to go level on points with Grenoble, Guingamp. and Dunkerque in the play-off spots.
- After four straight losses in Ligue 2, 10-man Martigues drew (1-1) with Dunkerque at the Stade Vélodrome: Milan Robin and Naatan Skyttä the scorers for each side.
- Amiens beat bottom side Rodez (2-1) at Stade de la Licorne, and Laval were victorious at home to Pau (3-1).
READ MORE:
Ligue 2 Review #6: Metz hit six against Martigues to take top spot, and more!
Ligue 2 Review #5: Bastia top the league! Grenoble win big at Martigues
