ASSE 3-2 Lens - 4e journée de L1 2006-2007

Sunday, August 27, 2006 Despite their opening (and undeserved) defeat against Sochaux, ASSE got off to a great start this season with wins in Monaco and against Nancy. Playing at home for the third time in four matches, Les Verts (The Greens) can now firmly establish themselves in the top quarter of the table. And what better way to start than by hosting a team in the midst of a crisis, such as RC Lens, recently thrashed 4-0 in Lille? Les Verts quickly took control, going 3-0 up by the hour mark thanks to the effective teamwork implemented by new coach Ivan Hasek. But, as has been the case throughout the season, Saint-Étienne lost focus and allowed their opponents to regain hope. In the end, ASSE won 3-2 after a match they controlled for 75 minutes, but which could have cost them dearly. A foretaste of the disastrous return match in Lens and a sign of their ability to go the distance: second at the end of the first half of the season, Les Verts would finish 11th... The return match, which ended in a 3-3 draw, was one of the worst scenarios of the decade for ASSE:    • Lens 3-3 ASSE - 22e journée de L1 2006-2007   A few weeks later, Les Verts confirmed their form by winning at home against PSG:    • ASSE 1-0 PSG - 8e journée de L1 2006-2007   As was often the case at the time, the derby at Gerland offered a farcical refereeing performance and a bitter defeat:    • Lyon 2-1 ASSE - 9e journée de L1 2006-2007   The following season, even Opponent, even winner:    • ASSE 2-0 Lens - 31e journée en retard de L...   ASSE-Lens was also the infamous relegation battle in 2001:    • ASSE 1-1 Lens - 32e journée de D1 2000-2001   http://www.asse-stats.com/match-27-ao... Canal+ footage