Toulouse secure comeback win over Saint-Etienne in Ligue 1 opener

Toulouse came from behind to defeat Saint-Etienne 2-1 in their Ligue 1 opener thanks to goals from Martin Braithwaite and Wissam Ben Yedder, while Aleksandar Pesic was dismissed late on for Dominique Arribage's men.

The home side were the first to threaten when Braithwaite raided down the left and fired a low ball into the middle for Ben Yedder, but the forward could only guide his effort wide of the post.

Saint-Etienne took the lead in the 17th minute as Loic Perrin rose highest in the area to power a header past Mauro Goicoechea.

However, Toulouse got back into the match when they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, which Braithwaite lifted over wall and down into the bottom corner.

In the second half, the hosts won another set piece on the edge of the penalty area as Tongo Doumbia was brought down. Ben Yedder stood over the ball and drilled his effort past Stephane Ruffier to hand his side the lead.

Braithwaite almost notched his second goal of the game when Jean Kana Biyik did well down the left to release the run of the forward, but he lost his composure as he fired the ball wide of the target.

Romain Hamouma tried to bring the visitors level as he burst through the middle, but he blasted his shot wide of the post.

Toulouse were to end the match with 10 men after Pesic saw red for a poor challenge on Perrin, just six minutes after coming on as a substitute.

The visitors upped the ante in search of an equaliser, but Toulouse were resilient at the back to hold out for the three points.