Three of the four French based Yanks came out on the winning end of their games, although Folarin Balogun took no part in Monaco’s triumph in the opening weekend of Ligue 1.
Lens 0 – 1 Lyon
Tanner Tessmann got the nod and started Olympique Lyonnais’ first game of the Ligue 1 season and was there for the final whistle to celebrate to road victory in the north of France against Racing Club de Lens. The American was successful with 30 of his 39 passes, or 77% success rate.
It took a minute into first-half stoppage time before the deadlock was broken, and it was Georges Mikautadze who lit up the score board with his right footed, close-range strike that easily beat the Lens keeper, Robin Risser. The Georgian scored 11 times last season for “the Kids” and will look to better that this campaign.
On Saturday night, Lyon will welcome Metz to the Groupama Stadium as they look to continue their undefeated season.
Nice 0 – 1 Toulouse
Mark McKenzie started at the left center-back position for The Violets, who came away with an impressive road victory against OGC Nice on the French Riviera.
Eleven minutes into the game the hosts had the first sniff at goal when Hicham Boudaoui took a crack at the goal from distance, but the Algerian midfielder failed to hit the target. The few first half chances for both sides troubled neither goalkeeper.
In the 48th minute however, Nice had the best opportunity of the game but from close range, Jonathan Clauss shot like a defender and blasted the shot well over the cross bar.
As a matter of fact, the Eaglets dominated but just could not put the ball past the Toulouse keeper. Of their 13 shots, only two were on target. Toulouse shot 10 times with only two of theirs on target as well, but the important factor was that one of them rippled the net and that was thanks to Djibril Sidibé in the 89th minute. The many named, Santiago Manuel Hidalgo Massa provided the assist.
On Sunday Brest will visit McKenzie and Toulouse in the Hauge-Garonne region of France as Ligue 1 continues.
Notes:
Tim Weah came off the bench to start the second half for his new Marseille team, but he couldn’t make an impact as the team from the port city lost a close one to Stade Rennes, 1-0 up in Brittany. Hoping to bounce back next weekend, they’ll have the dubious task of going up against the French and European (Champions League) champions, Paris St Germain. At least they’ll be at home.
Folarin Balogun was absent from the Monaco team sheet when Les Rouge et Blanc came away 3-1 winners against Le Havre in front of their hometown fans at the Stade Louis II Stadium. It was a good start to the season, which will continue on Sunday when they make their longest Ligue 1 trip up to the Belgium border where they’ll take on OSC Lille.
