ANGERS, France (Interstat) — Angers opened its Ligue 1 campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over 10-man FC Metz on Sunday at Stade Raymond Kopa, a result that defied the expectation of a more comfortable win.

The match was decisively altered in the ninth minute when Metz defender Jean-Philippe Gbamin was shown a straight red card, forcing the visiting side to play a man down for the overwhelming majority of the contest. Despite the significant numerical advantage, Angers struggled to break down a resolute Metz defense for much of the first half.

The breakthrough finally came in the 25th minute. Midfielder Louis Mouton found the net for what proved to be the game-winning goal. The buildup involved substitutes Terry Yegbe and Fodé Ballo-Touré, who were both credited with assists on the play, though official statistics listed Branco van den Boomen with the primary assist.

Mouton’s goal stood as the lone score in a match where Angers was heavily favored. According to pre-match projections by Interstat, Angers had an 83.30 percent probability to win. The organization’s game simulator had predicted a final score of Angers 3, FC Metz 1, but the home side could not capitalize further on its opportunities.

The match grew increasingly fractious as it progressed, with four yellow cards issued following the early red. Ballo-Touré was booked just two minutes after Mouton’s goal in the 27th minute. Van den Boomen received a yellow in the 31st minute, Yegbe was cautioned in the 67th, and goal-scorer Mouton was booked in the 80th minute.

The victory gives Angers a perfect start to its domestic season, moving its Ligue 1 record to one win and zero losses. Their overall record across all competitions also stands at one win and zero losses. For FC Metz, the defeat marks a disappointing start, leaving them with a record of zero wins and one loss in both Ligue 1 and across all competitions.

Angers will look to build on the result when it continues its league schedule next weekend. FC Metz, meanwhile, must regroup quickly as it seeks its first points of the season. The team’s task was made immeasurably more difficult by the early dismissal, which shaped the entire tactical landscape of the contest.