Ghent (Belgium) (AFP)
The disappointment is the measure of expectation: two years after the end of his last European adventure, Saint-Etienne suffered the law of La Gantoise (3-2), Thursday at the first day of the Europa League.
Coldly picked by an early goal from Jonathan David (2nd), the St Etienne have seen their dominance shatter the clinical effectiveness of the Ghent counterattacks, and are forced to let slip their executioner of the day at the top of Group I, Wolfsburg German company, Oleksandria (3-1).
While the nearly 1,000 green supporters could have expected a favorable result when Wahbi Khazri (39th) responded to the opening goal, the Ghent striker showered their illusions four minutes later by signing his second goal of the night.
More threatening after the locker room, Ghislain Printant's men were again cut short in their momentum in the 64th minute.
On a Vadis Odjidja free kick, Buffalos defender Mikael Lustig handed the ball to the first post for Ngadeu ... but it was the Saint Etienne captain Loïc Perrin who inadvertently pushed the ball into Ruffier's cage.
Despite an unintentional helping hand from Ghent goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski, also scorer against his will with a blunder on a pass behind teammate Igor Plastun (74), the Greens have failed to return to the score.
With this first loss of their history against a Belgian team, the Saint Etienne dive a little more into doubt, before a dangerous trip to Angers this weekend.
In a competition with which they have a rich history, the Greens have not only missed an opportunity to wipe out their losses in Ligue 1 (15th with five points in as many games), but they also see their direct opponents for the first two places qualifiers take three units in advance.
Crucial for first place in the group, the reception of Wolfsburg Geoffroy-Guichard also becomes for the survival of the Greens in the Europa League.
Imperative victory in two weeks, on pain of seeing the Cauldron explode.
© 2019 AFP