Toulouse scored three second-half goals to win 3-0 at Le Mans on Friday night and open Ligue 1's seventh round. Jacen Russell-Rowe scored straight after half-time, Aron Dønnum made it two before the hour and Casper Tengstedt added the third late on at Stade Marie-Marvingt. The win takes Toulouse provisionally up to seventh.
Match facts
- Result: Le Mans 0-3 Toulouse (half-time 0-0)
- Competition: Ligue 1, Matchday 7
- Venue: Stade Marie-Marvingt, Le Mans
- Scorers: Le Mans - none; Toulouse - Russell-Rowe 46', Dønnum 59', Tengstedt 87'
- Red cards: None
- Next: Toulouse v Troyes, Saturday 24 October; Auxerre v Le Mans, Sunday 25 October
How the match unfolded
The first half was open but goalless. Tengstedt had an early shot saved in the sixth minute, and Le Mans answered through headers and shots from Louis Mafouta and Jean Vercruysse, which all missed the target. Toulouse had more of the ball as the half went on, and in the 45th minute Russell-Rowe's half-volley was pushed away by Le Mans goalkeeper Nicolas Kocik.
The game turned within seconds of the restart. Dønnum broke down the right and found Russell-Rowe, who cut inside Harold Voyer and curled a left-footed shot into the top corner in the 46th minute.
Dønnum doubled the lead in the 59th minute with a left-footed shot that took a deflection off former Toulouse defender Djibril Sidibé. The Norwegian was back in the starting line-up for the first time since a family bereavement, local outlet actu.fr reported, and his team-mates gathered round him as he celebrated.
Le Mans made a triple change on the hour, bringing on Lucas Calodat, Habib Diallo and Billal Brahimi. Mafouta and Vercruysse both had chances in the 66th minute, but Toulouse stayed in control. Tengstedt thought he had scored in the 75th minute, but VAR ruled the goal out for offside. Voyer then went off injured and was replaced by Noa Boissé.
Tengstedt got his goal three minutes from time. Cristian Cásseres played the pass, and the Danish striker controlled it and finished with his right foot from close range to make it 3-0. Le Mans kept pushing in seven minutes of stoppage time, with Diallo and Brahimi trying their luck, but Guillaume Restes kept a clean sheet.
What it means
Toulouse started the night 15th, level on six points with Le Mans. With nine points they now sit seventh, one point ahead of the group on eight, although the rest of the matchday is still to be played. It is only their second league win of the season. Their first six games brought one win, three draws and two defeats, including a 2-2 draw at Monaco in which Tengstedt also scored.
Le Mans stay on six points and drop to 15th. It is their third league defeat of the season; another came in a 3-1 loss at PSG.
What comes next
Toulouse host Troyes next Saturday. Troyes, who lost 2-0 at home to Marseille earlier in the campaign, have one win from their first six games. Le Mans travel to Auxerre on Sunday 25 October.
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