Champions Lille are still without a win this season as Saidou Sow scored his first Saint-Etienne goal late on to cancel out Burak Yilmaz's first-half opener in a 1-1 draw at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
THE MATCH
LOSC were much more solid than they had been in their 4-0 humbling at the hands of Christophe Galtier's Nice in Round 2, boosted by Xeka's return from injury in midfield and an assured debut in goal from Ivo Grbic, signed on Thursday on loan from Atlético Madrid.
Les Dogues took the lead (38') when the ball broke Burak Yilmaz's way. The veteran Turkish international took one touch to control then fired off a left-footed shot from the edge of the area that Etienne Greene could only palm into his own net.
Jocelyn Gourvennec's visitors had plenty of chances to increase their lead in the second period and Green made decent saves from Jonathan Bamba (48'), Jonathan David (55'), Yilmaz (58' and 88') as well as substitute Yusuf Yazici (84').
Lille paid for failing to convert their numerous chances when 19-year-old Sow (87') headed home an Arnaud Nordin right-wing corner with the ball going in off the underside of the crossbar. Grbic stood no chance. ASSE have three score draws this season while Gourvennec is still searching for a first win as LOSC coach and his side are the first reigning champions to fail to win any of their first three games since Montpellier in 2012.
THE PLAYER: Etienne Green
A late call-up to France's Euro Under-21 squad, the English-born 21-year-old goalkeeper has established himself as ASSE's number one and he again showed impressive maturity and ability to keep LOSC at bay in the second half. A great future beckons.
THE STAT: 6
Saint-Etienne are winless in their last six Ligue 1 games against Lille (D3, L3).
