Moses Simon registered a league-leading fifth assist of the Ligue 1 Uber Eats season as Nantes ended Angers' unbeaten start to the campaign with a thumping 4-1 win on Sunday.
THE MATCH
Nantes had lost their previous three league games without scoring while their hosts could have moved to within a point of leaders Paris Saint-Germain with a fourth win of the campaign, but as unlikely as it seemed Les Canaris soon took the game in hand.
Simon teed up Andrei Girotto to put them ahead early (3') and Ludovic Blas doubled their lead from the penalty spot shortly afterwards following a foul on Randal Kolo Muani (6').
Angers struck back through captain Ismaël Traoré when he finished from a Thomas Mangani corner (10'), but Simon helped complete a crazy opening to the game at the Stade Raymond Kopa with a mazy dribble that led to Kolo Muani adding a third (23') well inside the opening half-hour.
Nantes had not scored three goals so quickly in a league game in over 20 years, and Angers never recovered from the blow. Blas added his second of the game and his side's fourth after being set up by Kolo Muani (79') to complete a spectacular and unexpected win for Antoine Kombouaré's men.
THE PLAYER: Moses Simon
The Nigeria international had a hand in two goals and was a constant menace throughout, confirming his excellent start to the season.
THE STAT: 5
Simon now has five assists this term, the highest tally of any Ligue 1 Uber Eats player.
Elsewhere, Clermont and Brest played out an incident-filled 1-1 draw. Johan Gastien — son of Clermont boss Pascal — was sent off for a foul on Franck Honorat (49'), and Romain Faivre dropped the resulting free-kick onto the head of Brendon Chardonnet for the opening goal (52'). Elbasan Rashani — who else? — equalised from Jason Berthomier's free-kick to salvage the hosts a point (65').
Troyes picked up their first win of the season against Metz last week, and nearly followed it up with a victory over Montpellier. Yoann Touzghar had given Troyes the lead (38') but Téji Savanier produced a late equaliser (87') for Montpellier, who had Matheus Thuler sent off (80').
Reims have now failed to win in 12 home games after drawing 0-0 with Lorient, and it could have been worse for the hosts had goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic not made a clutch of good saves.
