A successful entry into the running.
Coach Pascal Dupraz began his mandate with AS Saint-Etienne with a narrow success in the Round of 16 of the Coupe de France in front of Lyon-La Duchère, club National 2 (4th div.), 1 to 0 Sunday at the Balmont stadium in Lyon.
Dupraz (59) succeeded Claude Puel on December 14, dismissed from his post after the rout conceded at home against Rennes in the league (5-0), on December 5.
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Mastery for the Greens, who will play big Wednesday against Nantes
The Greens, who ended a series of three consecutive defeats in Ligue 1 of which they carry the red lantern, took a decisive advantage on a goal by Arnaud Nordin from a long shot at ground level which surprised the keeper Pierre Popp in the 32nd minute.
Overall, ASSE had control of the ball.
And even if the Foréziens were not very punchy offensively, which prevented them from taking cover, the Lyon team did not get any serious opportunity to hope to either take the advantage or equalize despite of the reaction that the Rhone people offered at the start of the second half.
This victory at least has the merit of allowing Saint-Etienne to approach with a little more confidence the very important important meeting on Wednesday at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium against Nantes for the 19th day of Ligue 1.