Brazilian striker Brandao scored twice as Saint-Etienne crushed struggling AS Nancy-Lorraine 4-0 in the French league on Friday, with all the goals coming in a frantic opening 25 minutes.
In his first league start since joining Saint-Etienne from Marseille, Brandao headed home Jonathan Brison’s cross in the ninth minute.
Romain Hamouma made it 2-0 in the 19th after running onto a long pass from midfielder Renaud Cohade. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang crossed for Brandao to head in the third goal shortly after, and then Cohade released Aubameyang to run through and clip the ball over beleaguered goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier.
Photo: AFP
Nancy striker Simon Zenke was sent off midway through the second half.
The win moved Saint-Etienne provisionally up to seventh place ahead of this weekend’s remaining eighth-round matches. Nancy stay in the relegation zone, two points above last-place Troyes.
Today, league leaders Marseille take on bitter rivals Paris Saint-Germain. PSG will take first place from Marseille on goal difference if they win at Stade Velodrome. Also, Bordeaux play at Brest and Lorient host Lyon.
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