ASSE, Montpellier, & Reims held on Ligue 2 BKT return

One week before the return of Ligue 1 McDonald's, it was time for the opening weekend of Ligue 2 BKT action - and this season the race at both the top and the bottom will be as tight and as intriguing as ever. It's not always easy for teams to come down from the top flight, as Saint-Étienne, Montpellier, and Reims found out this weekend. Meanwhile, there was excitement for newcomers Le Mans at Guingamp with one of two 3-3 scorelines to be played this weekend, whilst Pau and Troyes grab their first three points of the season in the only two wins of the gameweek.

Guingamp 3-3 Le Mans: The Late, Late Show at Stade Roudourou

Le Mans certainly made a good impression on their first Ligue 2 BKT game after earning promotion from the FFF Championnat National last season, scoring at the death to deny promotion favourites in Guingamp away from home.

Stade Roudourou was the setting on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Brittany - and what other way to kick it off than with a thunder-strike on the half-volley from Le Mans central midfielder Edwin Quarshie to open the scoring (18') after a great passage of possession play from the away side. Les Mucistes then doubled their lead after dispossessing EAG in the centre of the park and Anthony Ribelin slotting home on the transition (40') and score his first goal in Ligue 2 BKT.

Slyvian Ripoll would make two changes at half-time, but Les Rouge et Noir would have to wait until the 70th minute to begin their comeback, when 23 year-old centreback Albin Demouchy rose high from a corner to bury a header (69'). Then it was centreback partner Donatien Gomis who was slid through on goal only a few minutes from time and calmly grabbed the equaliser with a striker's finish (86').

New-signing Louis Mafouta thought he had surely wrapped up the game in the final seconds of eight minutes of injury-time with his finish on the pivot which sparked jubilant scenes between the home fans and players - yet the drama wasn't done there. On one last final push, Edwin Quarshie would latch onto a cross at the front post, flicking home past Ortola in the 10th minute of added time. Cue wild celebrations in front of the away end, as Le Mans pick up their first point on their return to the second tier.

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Laval 3-3 Saint-Étienne: A six-goal thriller as Sainté make their Ligue 2 BKT return

Saint-Étienne's comeback campaign started with a trip to the Mayenne region and Olivier Frapolli's Stade Lavallois - and it became the second six-goal thriller to be played over the opening weekend. No Lucas Stassin in the squad for Sainté, but Zuriko Davitashvili featured off the bench for the away side. Malick Tchokounté picked up where he left off last season with Laval, providing a looped header to open the scoring against the run of play (16'). 

After the initial setback it only took 10 minutes for ASSE to get back into their groove, as Aïmen Moueffek drove into the box and managed to put the ball on a plate for Irvin Cardona to smash home into the roof of the net (26'). Moueffek was once again the provider as he once again found some space down the right side and set up Augustine Boakye on the edge of the box, the Ghanian's strike was rolled into the back of the net to put Les Verts in front (34'). The first half action then ended with a penalty given to the hosts after Mickaël Nadé brought down Mupemba in the box, and it was Tchokounté who converted to put the game back on even terms just before the break (40').

Ben Old had been promising down the left-flank throughout the first half, and he was rewarded with a goal after being fed into the box, and the New Zealand international's low strike was unstoppable for Samassa in the Laval net (51'). Yet Les Verts didn't make the most of their second half dominance and the hosts made them pay. The young Ethan Clavreul connected with Julien Maggiotti's corner with his shoulder to score his first goal for the club (87'), and hold Sainté to a point on their return to Ligue 2 BKT.

Around the grounds in Ligue 2 BKT: 

Reims held by Amiens, Montpellier salvage point against Red Star

Stade de Reims returned to action in the second tier after a busy summer of change, but were held by an experienced Amiens side who denied them the three points in the 3rd minute of injury time when Josué Chibozo equalised for Les Licornes. This was despite moments of promise when Hafiz Umar Ibrahim put Les Rémois in front after Mohamed Diakhon scored his first goal of the season.

Damien Durand was once again Red Star's talisman as he volleyed Les Audoniens into a one-goal lead on the ten minute mark at Montpellier's Stade de la Mosson. It would take time for MHSC to get back into the game on their return to Ligue 2 BKT, yet a towering second-half header from Bećir Omeragić earned La Paillade a point.

Enzo Bardeli saves point for Dunkerque, Pau & Troyes with wins

There was more goal-scoring fun to be had at Dunkerque's Stade Marcel Tribut. USL Dunkerque went into the game with new manager Albert Sanchez following the departure of Luís Castro to FC Nantes, whilst Grégory Proment was hoping to stabilise Clermont following their relegation play-off win over Boulogne last season. Henri Saivet had chipped Clermont in front during the second half, but an acrobatic volley from Enzo Bardeli levelled up another 2-2 draw this weekend.

The only two wins of the weekend came from Pau - who saw off Annecy 2-0 after goals from Meddah and Sadik. Then Troyes overcame a 10-man Grenoble side at Stade de l'Aube with Assoumou and Martin Adeline getting on the mark. AS Nancy marked their return to Ligue 2 BKT with a goalless draw, but a first point of the season at home to Rodez.

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