PARIS: Nice hammered Saint-Etienne 8-0 on Friday in an astonishing rout that marked the newly promoted side’s heaviest French league defeat in 73 years.
Nice notched six in a scintillating first half display and overall equalled its record number of goals scored in a Ligue 1 game.
The writing looked on the wall for visiting Saint-Etienne as early as the fourth minute when Dylan Batubinsika conceded an own goal.
Tanguy Ndombele made it 2-0 three minutes later when a poor clearance left him with a free shot at goal.
Most of the damage came down the right wing, where the Saint-Etienne defense was unable to cope with Nice’s surging runs and crosses. Mohamed-Ali Cho was rampant and he scored the third in the 24th followed by Youssoufa Moukoko two minutes later.
Evan Guessand scored a beautiful individual goal in the 36th and Moukoko added his second and Nice’s sixth three minutes later to leave Saint-Etienne reeling.
Franck Haise’s men took their foot off the gas in the second half but substitute Sofiane Diop still tapped in a seventh with 15 minutes remaining. Pablo Rosario completed the rout with an 85th-minute penalty.
The result moved Nice into fifth place. Saint-Etienne was 16th. Agencies
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