English-born goalkeeper Etienne Green saved a penalty on his Saint-Etienne debut as his side edged further clear of the Ligue 1 relegation zone with a 2-0 win at Nimes on Sunday. Green, 20, kept out a late spot-kick from Renaud Ripart after being named in the side following injuries to Jessy Moulin and Stefan Bajic. Goals from Wahbi Khazri and Denis Bouanga secured a second victory in three game for Les Verts (the Greens) to lift them seven points above Nimes, who sit in the relegation play-off spot in 18th. "His performance didn't surprise me," Saint-Etienne coach Claude Puel said of Green. "I knew he was capable of a match like that. He was huge today. He was calm and intelligent. Let him enjoy it." Green was born in Colchester to English parents but moved with his family to France as a child. He signed a professional contract with Saint-Etienne last year after coming up through the academy. mw/dj