Ligue 2 Review #4: Metz beat Paris FC, Lorient join league leaders

News
George Boxall
Published on 09/17/2024 at 09:00
3-minute read
Ligue 2 football returns following the international break, and it was a busy week which saw Paris FC's unbeaten streak at the top of the table come to an end - and much more!

In another eventful weekend of Ligue 2 action, Lorient won to join the pack of leaders at the top of the table along with Guingamp. Metz travelled to the capital to face down unbeaten league leaders Paris FC, whilst Grenoble hosted SM Caen on Monday's evening game. Pau continued their unbeaten start to the season in style against Martigues on Friday evening (3-0), whilst Annecy were dominant against Amiens (3-0).

Paris FC 1-2 Metz: Les Grenats end PFC's unbeaten streak

Stephane Le Mignan's Grenats travelled to the capital on Saturday afternoon and came away with an impressive win against the league leaders thanks to goals from Cheikh Sabaly and Matthieu Udol. Sabaly provided a low finish from the centre of the box to open the scoring (13') before Metz captain Udol's diving header doubled the lead (25') after a dangerous free-kick was delivered by Guathier Hein. Nouha Dicko would latch onto Moustapha Mbow's flicked header to give Les Parisiens a chance to get back into the game, but Les Grenats would defend their lead to clinch a second win of the season and inflict Paris FC their first defeat of the campaign.

WATCH: Metz end Paris FC's unbeaten run

Grenoble Foot 38 3-1 Stade Malherbe Caen: Meïssa Ba brace helps complete home comeback against Caen

Last season's top scorer Alexandre Mendy scored on his return to Nicolas Seube's side but it wouldn't be enough for the Norman outfit, as a brace from Pape Meïssa Ba and a third effort from Gaëtan Paquiez saw the home side clinch their second  win of the season at the Stade des Alpes on Monday evening. Mendy opened the scoring with a confident finish one-on-one with Mamadou Diop early in the first half (4'), but Grenoble would complete the comeback before the half-time whistle. Quentin Lecoeuche fouled Gaëtan Paquiez in the box with a sliding challenge, which saw a penalty awarded that was converted by Meïssa Ba (42').

GF 38 would go ahead only minutes later, when Meïssa Ba was played into the left side of the box and finished low into the right corner (45'). After earning the initial penalty, Paquiez turned in an outside foot cross from Alan Kerouedan to seal all three points for Oswald Tanchot's side and extend Caen's winless start to the season.

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Lorient 2-1 Red Star: Soumano & Katseris fire Les Merlus to the top of the table

Lorient overcame Red Star  to join the trio at the top of Ligue 2 on Friday evening in a hard-fought win over the Paris suburban side. Panos Katseris opened the scoring with a finish at the back post (12') before Red Star'sn Merwan Ifnaoui latched onto Samuel Renel's through ball and provided his first goal in the second tier (47') to level proceedings. After a multitude of saves from Quentin Beunardeau, the Red Star keeper would give away an eventual penalty, converted by Sambou Soumano (77') to regain the lead for Les Merlus.

Moment of the week: Yohan Demoncy scores stunning free kick for Annecy

Full Ligue 2 BKT Matchday 4 Results: 

  • Rodez 1-2 Guingamp
  • Clermont 0-1 Dunkerque
  • Stade Laval 1-1 Ajaccio
  • Pau 3-0 Martigues
  • Lorient 2-1 Red Star
  • Bastia 0-0 Troyes
  • Annecy 3-0 Amiens
  • Paris FC 1-2 Metz
  • Grenoble Foot 3-1 Caen

READ MORE:

Ligue 2 Review #3: Red Star stun Guingamp in 7-goal thriller, and more!

The 2024/25 Ligue 2 Season Preview