Cleared Brandao lifts St Etienne

SAINT ETIENNE, France (AFP) –

Saint-Etienne’s Brazilian forward Brandao (L) heads and scores during their French L1 football match against Nancy at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in Saint-Etienne, central France. Saint-Etienne won 4-0.

Brazilian footballer Brandao proved that his judicial woes are finally behind him with a first-half double which helped lift Saint Etienne to a 4-0 win against Nancy on Friday.

The 32-year-old Brandao was cleared in a rape case this week after the alleged victim opted not to appeal a decision that saw charges against him dismissed for lack of evidence.

The alleged incident occurred when Brandao was playing for Marseille in March 2011. He was later loaned to Brazilian clubs Cruzeiro and Gremio in a bid to avoid media scrutiny.

The striker returned to Marseille in January this year but last month signed a two-year deal with Ligue 1 rivals St Etienne.

And the Brazilian showed his form in the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard with his first goals of the season as he opened for the home side after nine minutes with a header into the net of Nancy goalkeeper Damien Gregorini.

Midfielder Romain Hamouma doubled the hosts’ account after 18 minutes before Brandao added a second three minutes later, again with header this time off a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang cross.

And Gabonese striker Aubameyang completed the scoreline after 25 minutes for just Saint Etienne’s second win at home this season as they move up to seventh with 11 points from eight games.

Nancy remain second from bottom with just four points.