Ten days after hitting rock bottom against Le Havre (6-0, three expulsions), Saint-Etienne rebounded by showing a completely different face, Tuesday, August 30. In a Geoffroy-Guichard stadium still behind closed doors, ASSE won its first match of the season against Bastia (5-0), for the 6th day of Ligue 2.
After five games without a win since the start of the season, the Greens finally left last place in the standings thanks to goal difference. They had started the exercise with three penalty points following the incidents with the supporters which occurred during the return barrage against Auxerre, on May 29.
After having already shown the best in Valenciennes (2-2), Saturday, this evening could reshuffle the cards and perhaps make a date as the players of Laurent Battles were attractive. Above technically, they offered beautiful combinations of play while being clinical at the finish. A perfect performance facilitated by the passivity of the Corsicans.
“There is a renewal, there is better in the game and in the state of mind, captain Anthony Briançon was relieved at the microphone of BeIN Sports. We went through hell a fortnight ago, we will have to continue in this direction to exist in this championship.
One man symbolized this revival: Jean-Philippe Krasso. The striker scored a quadruple in forty-two minutes (19th, 33rd, 36th from the penalty spot and 61st). Previously, he had offered a decisive pass to Yvann Maçon (8th) to open the scoring. ASSE had never opened the scoring this season.
“After a 6-0, you have to raise your head, we do it well, rejoiced the scorer at halftime. In the state of mind, we are more focused.” Jean-Philippe Krasso now sits at the top of the Ligue 2 scorer rankings with seven of the eleven Stéphane goals this season. “He’s a great player who has a lot of talent, he proved it again tonight”savored Anthony Briançon.
4 – Jean-Philippe Krasso is the 1st St Etienne player to achieve a quadruple in a league match (Ligue 1 + Ligue 2) since Alex against Marseille on December 12, 1999 in L1. Powerful. #ASSESCB https://t.co/sNaoyCVKK8
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) August 30, 2022
His performance will give hope to his team and his supporters. He will be expected again next Monday in an oh so important meeting against Pau, the new bottom of the championship after his draw with the leader, Caen (1-1).
Saint-Etienne was not the only team to panic the counters since no less than 33 goals were scored (including 18 goals at the break) in this 6th day of Ligue 2. After two games without a win, Bordeaux found the way to victory against Quevilly-Rouen (4-0) and comes back to within a point of Caen. Metz also largely won at Rodez (4-1).