Game Day 6 saw a couple of American victories in Ligue 1 action over the weekend.
Strasbourg 1 – 2 Marseille
Time Weah started for Marseille when they made the trip to the Alsace Region to take on Strasbourg. The American put in a 58-minute shift and being replaced by Emerson Palmieri soon after the visitors went down a goal. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also came on around the same time, and it was the former Arsenal man who provided the equalizer before Michael Murillo hit the game winner in stoppage time.
The American who was making his 100th Ligue 1 appearance, having spent time in France before his move to Juventus, had a shot in just the eighth minute from outside the box. The keeper pushed it away but right at Nayef Aguerd who blew his chance at getting his name on the scoreboard.
After a scoreless first half, Abdoul Ouattara came on for SAS and within the first minute, the 19-year-old was celebrating his first goal for the club with a shot from the top of the 18-yard box.
With a dozen minutes left on the clock and the rain now pouring down, Aubameyang got a shot off from inside the box. The keeper pushed it away but only straight back at the Gabon international who didn’t miss the second time.
In the 91st minute Benjamin Pavard sent a cross into the center of the box and Robinio Vaz used his head but smashed it into the crossbar. Murillo was on hand to direct it back on target and into the back of the net for the late winner.
The victory pushes OM into third place, just 3 points behind front runners PSG and Lyon. Up next will be a visit from Ajax for a bit of Champions League action before returning to the league and a visit to Metz.
Toulouse 2 – 2 Nantes
Mark McKenzie and Toulouse twice came from behind to salvage a point at home against a stubborn Nantes side. The New Yorker went the distance for the Violets at right back.
The goals didn’t start to flow until stoppage time in the first half but then after the intermission the fans were treated to three more. Mayckel Lahdo was the fourth Nantes player to hit the ball at goal inside the box after Toulouse failed to clear their area. The Swede’s went in from just three yards out in the fourth minute of first half stoppage time.
Having lost his starting spot, Yann Gboho came on for the hosts to start the second half, and it took him less than a minute to find the back of the net. A long ball over the top saw him outrun the back line and then slot a low shot past the keeper to tie things up.
Just past the hour mark, Louis Leroux put the Canaries back in front from a corner kick that he headed in from six yards out. The second equalizer came from the penalty spot, from the foot of Aron Donnum.
A point leaves Toulouse in 10th place after six games. Up next is the Lyon clash.
Lille 0 – 1 Lyon
Olympique Lyon continued their winning ways after traveling up north and beating OSC Lille by one goal to nil at Stade Pierre Mauroy. Tanner Tessmann was in the starting lineup and went the distance for Les Gones.
The game favored Les Dogues who out-shot their visitors, 14-5 but the only one that counted for anything was Tyler Morton’s 13th minute strike after Nicolas Tagliafico picked him out in the box and the former Liverpool youth got his head on it from close range.
The win leaves Lyon equal on points with PSG but in second place due to goal difference. They’ll hope to knock a few more in next time out against Mark McKenzie and Toulouse on Sunday but before that, they have a date with Red Bull Salzburg in Europa League action on Thursday night.
Notes
Folarin Balogun never got off the Monaco bench as they fell 3-1 away to Lorient. The Red and Whites made things hard for themselves, going down to 10 men after 38 minutes. Up next, they’ll host Manchester City in the Champions League and then Nice in league action.
