Ligue 1 assist-king Moses Simon scores brilliant first goal of the season

The Nigerian international forward has been the Yellow Canaries’ best player by some distance so far this term, and he made it even better with his first league goal

Super Eagles star Moses Simon was on the scoresheet for the first time this season, but his effort ended as consolation as Nantes were humbled 3-1 at Reims.

Arriving on the back of two consecutive wins, Nantes slightly edged proceedings at the Stade Auguste Delaune in the first half, with Simon a crucial part of most of the visitors’ best-attacking moves.

The Nigerian forward constantly looked to set up his teammates from corner-kicks and with crosses, but his efforts either were intercepted or missed their intended targets.

Sitting atop the Ligue 1 assist table with five layoffs leading to goals, Simon could have scored the game’s first goal, but his headed effort failed to get anywhere near the target, moments before halftime.

And the visitors would rue their missed chances as Thomas Foket headed the home side in front six minutes after the break.

However, a brilliant individual effort from the Nigerian dragged Nantes back on levelled terms. Just past the hour-mark, Simon showed excellent skills to dribble past a clutch of Reims defenders before he finished with aplomb.

But the Yellow Canaries failed to build on that equaliser as a brace from Hugo Ekitike powered the hosts to a fine win.

Earlier on Sunday, Samuel Kalu was a second-half substitute as Girondins Bordeaux forced visiting Rennes to a 1-1 draw at the Stade Matmut-Atlantique.

The home side was trailing to a 56th-minute Laborde effort before Kalu came off the bench to replace Otávio ten minutes later, only for Mexer’s 88th-minute strike to earn a share of the spoils for the hosts. 

Bordeaux continue to loiter in the lower reaches of the league table after winning just one and drawing four of their eight games.