Paris (France) (AFP) - Newcomer Japanese substitute Ayase Ueda gave his team Lille a temporary lead by scoring the only winning goal against host Toulouse 1-0, at the opening of the fourth stage of the French Football League on Thursday.

Published on: 03/09/2026 - 23:05

Ueda, who came to France three days ago in a deal worth 15 million euros, and who had entered in the 57th minute instead of veteran Olivier Giroud (39 years old), scored the three-point goal in his first match with Lille after he headed a ball that was narrowly cleared by young goalkeeper Mathis Nifleur, who in turn entered in place of Guillaume Rest (73).

Ueda (28 years old) scored 25 goals with Feyenoord Rotterdam in 31 matches in the Dutch League last season, to be crowned top scorer. He also won the cup title in 2024.

Lille, which achieved its second victory in exchange for a draw, raised its score to 7 points in first place temporarily, pending the rest of the results of the stage, while Toulouse’s score froze at an orphan point in sixteenth place.

Lille, coached by Davide Ancelotti, son of the famous coach Carlo, prepared in the best possible way for its match against Spanish Real Betis on Tuesday in the unified group stage of the Champions League competition.

Lille sold the young Moroccan talent, Ayoub Bouadi, to Manchester City, England, for 100 million euros, and Belgian Mathias Fernandez-Pardew, for 60 million, to Newcastle, before the transfer market closed.

The four-time French champions started the league with a 2-0 win over Angers, before surrendering a two-goal lead at home to Paris Saint-Germain, the defending champion, to emerge with a 2-2 draw.

© 2026 AFP

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