First test and first win for Les Verts!

Context

First Ligue 2 BKT team to return to training, Les Verts began their seven-and-a-half-week preparation phase 15 days ago. After a week spent in Le Chambon-sur-Lignon for the first of their two training camps, Eirik Horneland's squad kicked off its campaign of test matches with a game against Etoile Carouge FC, a club from the Challenge League, Switzerland's second division.

Two starting XI

For this first pre-season game, Eirik Horneland is keen to give all his players game time. Two very different eleven will therefore face Carouge. The first mixes experience and youth. Alongside Gautier Larsonneur, we find the first recruits of the summer: Irvin Cardona, Maxime Bernauer, Mahmoud Jaber and Lassana Traoré. Generation Verte is well represented with Djylian N'Guessan and Paul Eymard.

👥 Le XI stéphanois pour la première période !#ASSEECFC, c’est dans 20 minutes à l’Envol Stadium et à suivre en live-tweets ! 🆚 pic.twitter.com/FEqEakfBa7

— AS Saint-Étienne (@ASSEofficiel) July 5, 2025

À la pause, Eirik Horneland injecte un peu de sang neuf avec Brice Maubleu dans les buts, Beres Owusu et Maedine Makhloufi sur les côtés droit et gauche de la défense à la place de Dennis Appiah et Lassana Traoré. Lamine Fomba vient se caler au milieu de terrain à la place de Paul Eymard et Zuriko Davitashvili remplace Ben Old. Luan Gadegbeku, Axel Dodote ou Nadir El Jamali... Plusieurs jeunes joueurs issus de centre de formation entreront également au fil du deuxième acte !

Pour être plus clair, voici le XI désormais : Maubleu - Owusu, Bernauer, Nadé, Makhloufi - Jaber, Fomba, Tardieu - Boakye, Cardona, Davitashvili ! ℹ️

— AS Saint-Étienne (@ASSEofficiel) July 5, 2025

Game scenario

True to their coach's game plan, Les Verts put Carouge under pressure right away, with Lucas Stassin and Yvann Maçon in the stands to watch their team-mates. The Swiss were surprised and upset, and Florian Tardieu soon had the chance to open the scoring (3rd). Carouge were not far off responding after a fine move from their goalkeeper, but Paul Eymard popped up in the middle to clear the ball away (10th). Despite this, Green remained in control of the match. Irvin Cardona came close to opening the scoring twice (15th, 16th), as did Ben Old (32nd) and Florian Tardieu (32nd), who took advantage of Dennis Appiah's activity. The latest recruit, Mahmoud Jaber, also brought thrills with a fine, taut shot (34th) and a very good ball that could have benefited Augustine Boakye after a relay from Irvin Cardona (40th). The Ghanaian came on earlier than expected, however, when Djylian N'Guessan was sent off (36th). The No.20 was in the spotlight from the outset, hitting the post (40th), before slipping the ball to Ben Old, who responded to Carouge's opener through Itaitinga (ASSE 0-1 Carouge, 42nd) just after Irvin Cardona had been denied a goal (42nd). After the New Zealander's equalizer (ASSE 1-1 Carouge, 45th), the Stéphanois missed the opportunity to extend their lead through Ben Old (45+1st) and Augustine Boakye (45th+3rd) before Itaitinga threatened again (45+4th).

Lamine Fomba came on as a substitute at half-time, and got off to a perfect start. After winning back two balls, the midfielder gave ASSE the lead with a fine shot into the top corner (ASSE 2-1 Carouge, 54th). The Greens extended their lead shortly afterwards, thanks to a breakthrough from almost 50m out by Zuriko Davitashvili, which ended with a delicious ball (ASSE 3-1 Carouge, 58th). The Georgian was on the verge of adding to his tally in the box, firstly after a series of short passes in the 16m (67th) and then with a new dive (78th), but the keeper won his duel on the first chance and the striker was flagged offside for a disallowed goal. Late in the game, Nadir El Jamali (87th) and Augustine Boakye (89th) also had the chance to add a fourth goal, but their shots were off target and it was the opposing keeper who stepped in to save the shots of the same two players (90th). Final score, 3-1 for ASSE!

90e+2 : ⏹️ C’est terminé ! Des buts signés Ben Old, Lamine Fomba et Zuriko Davitashvili offrent aux Verts leur premier succès de l’été ! Prochain rendez-vous : face à Troyes, samedi prochain ! 👊

💚 3-1 🔵 #ASSEECFC - #Prépa2526 pic.twitter.com/PBRzuWbXSu

— AS Saint-Étienne (@ASSEofficiel) July 5, 2025

Lamine Fomba came on as a substitute at half-time, and got off to a perfect start. After winning back two balls, the midfielder gave ASSE the lead with a fine shot into the top corner (ASSE 2-1 Carouge, 54th). The Greens extended their lead shortly afterwards, thanks to a breakthrough from almost 50m out by Zuriko Davitashvili, which ended with a delicious ball (ASSE 3-1 Carouge, 58th). The Georgian was on the verge of adding to his tally in the box, firstly after a series of short passes in the 16m (67th) and then with a new dive (78th), but the keeper won his duel on the first chance and the striker was flagged offside for a disallowed goal. Late in the game, Nadir El Jamali (87th) and Augustine Boakye (89th) also had the chance to add a fourth goal, but their shots were off target and it was the opposing keeper who stepped in to save the shots of the same two players (90th). Final score, 3-1 for ASSE

Next up

After this first successful test, the Ligériens will take a break tomorrow, Sunday, before resuming training on Monday, with their next warm-up match against Troyes in their sights. This match will be played behind closed doors, but will be broadcast live on ASSE TV.

Joueurs associés

22

Zuriko
Davitashvili

Géorgie

26

Lamine
Fomba

France

  I want his jersey