Recap: Davitashvili Records Historic Hat-Trick in ASSE’s Win vs. AJA
Match Reports
AS Saint-Étienne, behind a hat-trick performance from Zuriko Davitashvili, snapped a two-match winless streak with a 3-1 home win over AJ Auxerre on Saturday at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
Saint-Étienne recorded eight shots in the first half, and Davitashvili opened the scoring in the 15th minute. The home side would head into halftime with a 1-0 lead, but the scoring would pick up in the second half.
Davitashvili scored a goal in the 54th minute to give ASSE a 2-0 advantage, as Les Verts recorded five shots in the first 45 minutes. Auxerre responded to cut the deficit in half with a goal from Theo Bair in the 74th minute.
AJA also recorded nine shots in the second half, but the away side couldn't find the equalizing goal. Davitashvili scored the insurance goal in the 86th minute to seal the victory and his hat-trick.
Davitashvili is the first Saint-Étienne player to score a hat trick in Ligue 1 since Wahbi Khazri did it against FC Girondins de Bordeaux on April 11, 2021.
The 23-year-old also made history by becoming the second Georgian player to score a hat-trick in one of the top five leagues this century. The first was Alexander Iashvili, who achieved this feat while playing for Freiburg against Wolfsburg on November 8, 2003.
After the match, Davitashvili spoke to ASSE's social media platforms and offered a reaction to his performance. The forward noted that he's happy with his performance and the three points.
"Thank you for the support. It was a very incredible day, and I'm very happy. I'm very proud of my team, for my first hat-trick, and we need to continue like this."
The win allows Saint-Étienne to move out of the relegation zone, placing them 13th in the Ligue 1 table with seven points. ASSE will return from the FIFA international break on October 19 with a home match against RC Lens.
On the other hand, Auxerre will look to secure a bounce-back win when they host Stade de Reims at the Stade Abbé-Deschamps on October 20.
READ MORE:
>>French Clubs' Champions League Debuts: From Auxerre to Stade Brestois
>>Recap: Angers, OM Play to 1-1 Draw Heading Into Break
