Desperate to make a positive start following a two-match losing streak in Ligue 1, Angers took the game to Toulouse from the outset, and striker Sofiane Boufal was particularly eager to impose himself on the game.
The striker glided past two players and into the Toulouse penalty area, only to be felled by Stijn Spierings, but there wasn’t enough contact for referee Benoit Bastien, who waved play on.
In a flash, Toulouse launched a rapid counter-attack that ended with Fares Chaibi guiding the ball to Brecht Dejaegere, and the midfielder struck low beneath Yahia Fofana.
With a sense of dread looming after conceding a league-high 25 goals this season, Angers retreated to limit any further damage, but the approach nearly backfired when Rasmus Nicolaisen’s close-range effort from a Toulouse free-kick was parried behind by Fofana.
Ultimately, the save kept Angers in the contest, and the Black and Whites captain Nabil Bentaleb led by example by curling in a direct free-kick for his second consecutive away goal. Yet, nothing could prevent Toulouse’s quest for a third consecutive home win and Branco Van den Boomen lashed in a penalty before halftime, following Batista Mendy’s handball.
A disastrous beginning to the second half almost unfolded for Angers when Bastien pointed to the spot after Ibrahim Amadou clipped Zakaria Aboukhlal. But, to the relief of the Black and Whites, the decision was overturned.
The let-off spurred the visitors into life, and Boufal’s low strike was cleared off the line by Anthony Rouault before Toulouse wrapped up their win, as Chaibi set up Spierings on the edge of the area for an unstoppable strike into the top corner.
Amine Salama’s late header gave Angers some hope, but Toulouse got over the line to move into the top half of the table, as a strong start to their Ligue 1 return continues. Meanwhile, defensive issues continue to plague an Angers side which is now winless in 14 of their last 15 on the road.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Fares Chaibi (Toulouse)
