Tanner Tessman scored his first goal of the season while Mark McKenzie and Toulouse lost a close one in Ligue 1 action.
Lyon 1 – 0 Angers
Game Day 5 of Ligue 1 kicked off on Friday night when Angers (Sporting Club de l’Ouest) made the 370 miles trip east to Lyon to take on Olympique Lyonnais. American midfielder Tanner Tessmann went the distance for OL and scored the only goal of the game to give his side the victory that leaves them in third place in the standings, recovering from their first defeat of the season last time out against Stade Rennes.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles had the chance to put the hosts ahead after just six minutes, but the ball flicked into the six-yard box for him was pounced upon by the keeper before the former Arsenal man could make contact. And just before the half, Tessmann got a crack at goal from the top of the D but the shot was deflected out of harm’s way.
Twenty minutes into the second half Olympique won a corner that Adam Karabec whipped into the box and saw Martin Satriano’s header pushed away by the Angers keeper. Fortunately for the hosts, it only made it as far as Tessmann who blasted it past Herve Koffi from six yards out.
Both Satriano and Maitland-Niles had decent chances later in the game, but neither were able to find the back of the net. Regardless, the American’s first goal of the season was enough to secure the points on the night. Up next will be a trip up north along the Belgian border to take on Olivier Giroud and OSC Lille.
Auxerre 1 – 0 Toulouse
With another low scoring game where the only goal came late in the first half, Auxerre sent their opponents home with nothing to show for the 380-mile trip. Mark McKenzie started in the midfield for the Violets.
Toulouse were awarded a very early penalty after a defender handled the ball in the box, but Frank Magri’s half-hearted strike was too close to the Auxerre keeper, who guessed the right way and pushed the ball away from his goal.
After some nifty passing around the visitor’s box by four Auxerre players, it fell to Daniel Namaso who danced around a couple of defenders and tucked the ball away from a few yards out to claim his first goal of the season.
Norwegian defender Fredrik Oppegård was shown a red card for being an idiot off the ball with a half hour left to the game but unfortunately Toulouse could not capitalize on the man advantage.
Ninth place Toulouse will welcome 16th place FC Nantes down south this weekend for their next challenge.
Notes
Folarin Balogun was not on the team sheet when Monaco hosted and then destroyed Metz on Sunday afternoon. Second half sub Anssumane Fati scored two of the Red and Whites five goals at Stade Louis II. Metz managed to score two of their however, however it was not enough to pick up anything from their trip. Up next Monaco hits the road to take on Lorient.
Tim Weah and Marseille will host the French champions, PSG on Monday night.