Ligue 1: Boakye Brace Inspires St Etienne to 3-1 Win Over Reims

Eirik Horneland's halftime team talk inspired St Etienne to a stunning turnaround, as they defeated Reims 3-1 to claim a crucial Ligue 1 victory.

Augustine Boakye made a triumphant return from injury, scoring a brace in the second half to propel St Etienne to a thrilling 3-1 comeback victory over Reims. Boakye's goals, his first in St Etienne's green jersey, came in the space of just seven minutes and helped the hosts climb out of the Ligue 1 relegation zone.

St Etienne's recent struggles had led to the departure of manager Olivier Dall'Oglio, whose tenure ended with a 2-1 defeat to Toulouse. At the time, the club found itself in the relegation play-off spot during the Christmas period. New manager Eirik Horneland, who had previously been named Norwegian Manager of the Year in 2022, took the reins and faced a daunting task in his first match against a Reims side unbeaten in their last six meetings.

Horneland's baptism by fire proved to be a successful one, as St Etienne rallied to defeat Reims 3-1. The victory marked a promising start to Horneland's tenure and provided a much-needed boost to the team's survival hopes.

St Etienne's players were eager to make a strong impression, and they came close to taking the lead when Mathieu Cafaro broke free from the Reims defense. Cafaro expertly rounded goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf but ultimately squandered the opportunity, sending his left-footed shot into the side netting from a tight angle.

The hosts were presented with an even more promising chance shortly after, as Louis Mouton skillfully evaded Cedric Kipre's challenge and cut inside. However, Mouton's ensuing shot ricocheted off the base of the post, epitomizing both his and St Etienne's struggles in front of goal. This profligacy would prove costly, as Reims capitalized on a late opportunity before halftime.

Reims' top scorer Keito Nakamura ended his six-game goal drought in style, lashing home a left-footed shot just before the break. The goal gave Reims a 1-0 advantage, leaving St Etienne to regroup and reassess their strategy for the second half.

Eirik Horneland's halftime team talk seemed to have a profound impact on his players, as St Etienne staged a remarkable comeback in the second half. The hosts scored two goals in a stunning 10-minute blitz, with Augustine Boakye playing a starring role. The Ghanaian striker, who had struggled to find his form since joining the club, finally showcased his skills, scoring two impressive goals.

Boakye's first goal came when he tapped home at the back post after latching onto Mickaël Nadé's cross. His second goal was even more impressive, as he cut in from the left and unleashed an unstoppable effort into the top corner of Yehvann Diouf's goal. Reims, who had previously kept three clean sheets in their last five matches, were left reeling defensively, unable to cope with St Etienne's sudden surge in attacking potency.

As Reims pushed forward in search of an equalizer, St Etienne capitalized on the counter-attack to seal the win. Lucas Stassin, who had earlier provided an assist, nonchalantly chipped the ball over Diouf when one-on-one with the goalkeeper, having evaded Cedric Kipre's challenge. The goal capped off an impressive comeback for St Etienne, who have now won 15 of their 16 league points at home. With this victory, St Etienne have something to build on, while Reims are now without a win in their last five top-flight matches.