Striker Nolan Roux had a debut worth remembering as he scored a brace against AS Saint-Etienne in a Ligue 1 encounter. Eden Hazard scored from the spot as well as LOSC Lille claim another three points in the race for this season’s Championelle.
LOSC Lille coach Rudi Garcia could not help but smile at being able to sign Nolan Roux from Stade Brestois a few days back. In a Ligue 1 encounter against AS Saint-Etienne, Garcia handed the striker his Lille debut and the Frenchman repaid the coach’s faith
in him by scoring two goals as Lille went on to win the game 3-0.
Ahead of the game, Roux had said that he had joined the “ideal club”. However, Roux did show that he has a lot of “gelling in” to do as Lille flattered to deceive for large parts of the game.
However, things swiftly changed during the second half when Eden Hazard converted a penalty in the 50th minute. Four minutes from time, Roux doubled Lille’s advantage and within 60 seconds, capped off a memorable debut by scoring his second goal
of the game.
The onus was on Lille ahead of the game as they saw their 17-game unbeaten run come to an abrupt stop following a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Marseille last week. Les Dogues certainly started the game sluggishly against a Saint-Etienne side that had lost
just once in their last eight outings.
Les Verts coach, Christophe Galtier had fielded a young team which performed admirably throughout the first 45 minutes of the game. However, it was Lille who dominated the first period albeit chances were few and far between.
The first half ended with both sides not able to find a way past either of the two goalkeepers. However, a seemingly rejuvenated Lille side stepped into the field after the break. The game needed an inspiration and once again, it was http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Eden-Hazard-c11863 who was
the source of it. The youngster darted past two defenders before he was fouled by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sylvain-Marchal-c34431 inside the box. Nonchalantly, Hazard took the penalty and made Les Verts shot-stopper Ruffier go the wrong way to open the scoring.
Despite defending resolutely, Saint-Etienne were toothless in attack and the absence of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gabon-c2902 striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang did not help either.
Former AS Saint-Etienne man http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dimitri-Payet-c11276 came on as a substitute. Understandably, the winger was booed by home fans whenever he received the ball. However, the Frenchman found a way to silence Les Verts faithful when he forced Ruffier into making an excellent
save. Unluckily, Nolan Roux was waiting for a rebound and easily guided the ball into the net to score his first goal in Lille colours.
Within 60 seconds, Hazard found the debutant once again who coolly slotted home his second and Lille’s third of the night. The win was an important one as it ensures Lille of not losing ground in the race to the Ligue 1 Championelle.
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