The AS Saint-Étienne won a tough match against Boulogne-sur-Mer (1-0) on the third day of Ligue 2, thanks to a goal by Zuriko Davitashvili at the end of the game. Despite territorial domination and a promising initial period, the Greens met a well-organized Bolonnaise defence that reduced opportunities. The rare opportunities of the first half, with attempts by Davitashvili and Bokae, were stopped by the northern guard. In the second period, Saint-Étienne increased the intensity with the entry of Duffus and Cardona, but Koné, the goaltender of Boulogne, kept his team in the run. A missed penalty and an opportunity for Cardona added to the tension before Davitashvili did not find the flaw on a corner in the 74th minute, sealing Saint-Étienne’s victory.

The reactions after the game were mixed. On Boulogne’s side, coach Fabien Dagneaux expressed a frustration mixed with pride, acknowledging a defensive mistake that cost the goal, but emphasizing the collective performance and positive attitude of his players. He highlighted the need to improve the fairness and cohesion of the team, while welcoming the progress of young players. Nolan Binet also stressed the disappointment of a defeat after 70-75 minutes of good defense, while maintaining optimism about the future. Lucas Stassi emphasized the difficulty of the meeting and the patience required to get the three points, while affirming his current commitment to Saint-Étienne. Aimen Moueffek stressed the quality of the opposing team and the need to find solutions to score against the low blocks.

For his part, Saint-Étienne’s coach, Eirik Horneland, criticized the lack of speed and intensity of his team, as well as a lack of mental preparation against the opponent. He acknowledged that the team had not done enough to achieve a good result and stressed the importance of a better attitude and increased physical presence to progress. The team nevertheless won its second consecutive victory, confirming a promising start to the season and reinforcing its ambitions for the top of the standings. This success, while difficult to achieve, reflects the resilience of the team and its ability to overcome obstacles.