Strasbourg (AFP)

Strasbourg made short work of Metz (3-0) during a very pleasant Eastern derby played in a phenomenal atmosphere at the Meinau stadium, Friday at the opening of the 6th day of Ligue 1.

The Alsatians, authors of a remarkable first period, quickly took the advantage thanks to a penalty from Ludovic Ajorque (6th) and Habib Diallo then knocked out his former teammates by scoring a double before half-time (26th, 40th) .

The RCSA, which had not beaten its great rival in front of its hot public for 14 years, played a real derby, imposing constant pressure on its opponent, quickly put in difficulty.

Julien Stéphan's players put on a crazy intensity throughout the meeting and showed a lot of desire and determination.

Strasbourg provisionally climbs back to 10th place with 7 points after this second success of the season, while Metz, which has still not won, falls back to penultimate place with 3 units on the clock, just before receiving the armada of Paris SG on Wednesday.

- Diallo-Ajorque, a fiery duo -

In a sold-out and glowing Meinau stadium, Racing opened the scoring after its first situation: launched into the box by Habib Diallo, Dimitri Liénard was unbalanced by Alexandre Oukidja and Ajorque took the Metz goalkeeper against the grain to open the scoring (1-0, 6th).

Oukidja made up for it soon after by preventing Adrien Thomasson from doubling the bet: after having countered a Moselle defender, the Strasbourg striker found himself alone against the garnet goalkeeper, who repelled his left-footed shot (9th).

Strasbourg attackers Ludovic Ajorque and Habib Diallo, both scorers, hurt Metz in La Meinau, September 17, 2021 Frederick FLORIN AFP

The Algerian international, former player of the RCSA from 2014 to 2018 but yet scolded by the Alsatian public, was however powerless on the dry strike of Diallo, his former teammate in Moselle (2-0, 26th).

The Senegalese striker then offered himself a double to knock out the Garnets before half-time: in the middle of a passive Metz defense, Diallo relied on Ajorque, who gave him a bell-shaped ball and after a control of the thigh and a favorable counter, he beat Oukidja closely to ignite even more the stands (3-0, 40th).

Very unhappy with his troops, Metz coach Frédéric Antonetti made three of his five changes at the break to wake up his team.

And the entries of Boubacar Traoré, Warren Tchimbembé and Lamine Gueye have revitalized the game in Metz.

Thus, on a free kick, Gueye made use of Matz Sels, hardly ever requested (50th).

Less domineering, the Alsatians were however more dangerous than the Mosellans, like a powerful strike from Ajorque repelled by Oukidja (56th), a shot from Kevin Gameiro deflected with the tip of his foot by Dylan Bronn while his goalkeeper was beaten (74th) or a free kick from Liénard in the small net (86th).

Ludovic Ajorque transforms the scoring for Strasbourg on a penalty kick against FC Metz in La Meinau, September 17, 2021 Frederick FLORIN AFP

Metz had situations but few real chances.

On the most beautiful of them, Bronn believed to reduce the score in the wake, but Sels removed from his skylight his attempt with a header from a corner (77th).

© 2021 AFP