MONTBÉLIARD, France (Interstat) — FC Sochaux-Montbeliard opened its National 1 campaign with a commanding 2-0 victory over Concarneau on Friday afternoon at Stade Auguste-Bonal, powered by a first-half brace from forward Kapitbafan Djoco.

The home side defied pre-match projections from Interstat, which had simulated a 1-1 draw and gave Sochaux only a 53.6 percent probability of securing all three points. Instead, Sochaux delivered a performance that underscored its promotion ambitions in France’s third tier.

Djoco announced himself as the decisive figure early, breaking the deadlock in the 15th minute. The striker doubled his tally and sealed the result just before the hour mark, scoring in the 59th minute to give the hosts an insurmountable lead. Both of Djoco’s goals were assisted by second-half substitutes, highlighting the depth of the Sochaux squad. Djessine Seba and Flavio Da Silva each provided an assist after entering the match.

While the attacking prowess of Djoco defined the match, the contest grew increasingly fractious in the latter stages. Seba and Da Silva, the providers for the goals, found themselves in the referee’s book in quick succession, receiving yellow cards in the 77th and 78th minutes, respectively. The match concluded with a dismissal in second-half stoppage time, as Concarneau’s Jimmy Halby Touré was shown a red card in the 90+1st minute.

The result provides an ideal start for Sochaux-Montbeliard under the lights at their historic home ground. The club begins its National 1 season with a record of one win and no losses, immediately placing points on the board. For newly promoted Concarneau, the trip to Montbéliard proved a difficult introduction to the league, as the Brittany-based side was held scoreless and finished the match with ten men. Concarneau starts its season with a record of no wins and one loss.

Tactically, Sochaux managed the game effectively after establishing its two-goal cushion, limiting Concarneau’s opportunities and capitalizing on key moments. The successful integration of substitutes Seba and Da Silva, who directly contributed to the clinching goal, demonstrated a strategic advantage for the home side.

The victory sets a positive tone for Sochaux-Montbeliard’s 2025-26 campaign, a season where the club, with its storied history, aims to climb back toward the higher echelons of French football. For Concarneau, the focus will shift to regrouping after a challenging opener on the road against one of the division’s favored sides. Both teams will continue their National 1 schedules next week.