The Olympique Lyonnais, created barely a year earlier, has joined the elite after the first season in its history. And for the first time, the French first division championship will experience a derby, a match that will become legendary over the years. A derby that could have happened much later because in the summer of 1950, when OL was born, ASSE was on the verge of disappearing for lack of funds. Finally, the club is saved and the derby may well take place a year later, on October 28, 1951.
History designates the Stade de Gerland as the scene of this first clash in which Saint-Etienne leaves favorite, thanks to his experience. However, it is the Lyonnais who will win in this 11th day of D1. In front of 17,000 spectators, they quickly gain the advantage and Fritz Woehl becomes the first goalscorer in derby history. The striker even scored twice and OL led 2-1 at the break. In the second half, Georges dupraz, first scorer in the club’s history the previous year in the second division, widened the gap, then Stéphanois René Alpsteg thought he gave his teammates hope, but it was without counting on a Fritz Woehl unleashed that night. Their hat-trick allows OL to sign the first of 43 victories against rivals Stéphanois.
This success takes on a slight Alsatian flavor since the man of the match, Fritz Woehl, had been sought by the OL manager at the time, Oscar heisserer, who had known him when the two men played together in Strasbourg. This success will unfortunately not prevent OL from being relegated at the end of the season, but which will at least have the merit of launching this rivalry in the best possible way.
History will remember that 64 years later, for the last derby in history at the Stade de Gerland following OL’s move to Groupama Stadium, another striker from Lyon stood out: Alexandre lacazette imitates Fritz Woehl by scoring a hat-trick for a 3-0 victory and paying homage to his elders. So the circle was closed.
The match sheet
At the Stade de Gerland in Lyon.
D1 (J11) : OL – ASSE 4-2 (2-1)
Goals : Woehl (23 ’, 36’, 83 ’, s.p.), Dupraz (63’) for OL. Rijvers (44 ’), R. Alpsteg (66’) for ASSE.
OL : Lergenmuller – Grillon, Rodriguez, Bonvin – Juillard, Tichy – Woehl, Flammion- Ninel, Dupraz, Roland. Entr. : Heisserer.
ASSE : Ferrière – R. Alpsteg, Huguet, Fernandez – Bini, Domingo – Ferry, Rijvers – Haond, Nola, L. Alpsteg. Entr. : Snella.