Lorient 6 – ASSE 2: The Merlucciidaes secure win at the Stade Yves Allainmat

Saint-Étienne fell to an away defeat at the hands of FC Lorient at the Stade Yves Allainmat on Friday. Both Lorient and ASSE came from defeats in their previous league games. Lorient arrived at the game looking pick up points after losing their last game 5-1 to Paris Saint-Germain while ASSE were beaten 4-2 in the previous match against Olympique de Marseille. As the table looks today, Lorient and ASSE are 16th, (31 points) and 18th, (27 points), in the table respectively, after 31 matches.

It was an impressive opening from ASSE, with an early goal from Denis Bouanga in the 4th minute. The momentum was now with Saints, who then scored again through a goal from Arnaud Nordin, 22 minutes in to establish a 2-0. However, The Merlucciidaes weren’t lying down and managed to pull back a goal from Terem Moffi in the 42nd minute. Lorient then netted once more and found an equaliser thanks to a goal from Ibrahima Kone just before half-time, finalising the first half 2-2.

Lorient continued to apply pressure in the second and were rewarded, with a goal from Enzo Le Fee in the 61st minute. The momentum was now with Lorient, who then scored again through a 2nd effort from Ibrahima Kone, 65 minutes in to establish a 4-2. Lorient looked to have the game under control when they scored again and increased their lead, thanks to a second effort from Terem Moffi in the 86th minute to establish a 5-2. The Merlucciidaes then scored again and increased their lead thanks to a goal from Quentin Boisgard just before the final whistle with a final score of 6-2.

For Lorient, Quentin Boisgard, Dango Ouattara, Sambou Soumano and Fabien Lemoine, came on for Enzo Le Fee, Armand Lauriente, Ibrahima Kone and Laurent Abergel. ASSE replaced Yvan Neyou, Miguel Trauco, Bakary Sako, Zaydou Youssouf and Gabriel Silva with Adil Aouchiche, Kolo, Eliaquim Mangala, Lucas Gourna-Douath and Sada Thioub.

The referee booked Enzo Le Fee and Terem Moffi from Lorient. ASSE had the worst of it though, with Eliaquim Mangala, Mickael Nade, Kolo and Yvan Neyou seeing yellow, and Yvan Neyou (2 yellow cards) then sent off with a red.

Lorient will next travel to Nice, while ASSE will face Brest at home.