Ligue 1: Match report from St Etienne's 3-1 victory over Reims

St Etienne continued their winning start to the Ligue 1 season on Sunday with a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Reims at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

It was not all plain sailing for Christophe Galtier's side, with Benjamin Moukandjo's effort finding its way into the home net via a deflection off Loic Perrin in the 27th minute.

But Les Verts turned the match on its head after the interval, with goals from Max Gradel, Kevin Monnet-Paquet and Mevlut Erdinc sealing victory to follow up their 2-0 victory over Guingamp on the opening day.

It could have been rather more straightforward for St Etienne had Benjamin Corgnet's fourth-minute attempt, from a Gradel corner, found the target rather than smashing against the post.

Monnet-Paquet also lashed inches wide and Gradel's instant right-footed shot was well turned away by defender Mickael Tacalfred.

The opener arrived at the other end, though. After nearly half an hour of St Etienne domination, Diego laid the ball off to Moukandjo, who dribbled past two defenders before muscling his way towards goal and slotting home a neat effort - although replays suggested Perrin got the last touch.

Reims would have been two up two minutes before the interval were it not for the excellent reflexes of Stephane Ruffier, who turned away a fine curling attempt from Gaetan Charbonnier.

Kosi Agassa in the Reims goal twice did well to preserve his side's lead in the early stages of the second half, keeping out a powerful Corgnet header and a Moustapha Bayal Sall drive.

He was powerless to prevent the equaliser just before the hour, though, as Gradel despatched a superb 20-yard free-kick into the top corner.

And it was one-way traffic thereafter as the hosts wrapped up the points.

First Monnet-Paquet nodded in an Erdinc cross and then, 10 minutes from time, an unmarked Erdinc coolly slotted home a low cross from substitute Romain Hamouma.