Esbjerg have secured a dramatic 4-3 first-leg victory over Saint-Etienne in the Europa League qualifiers.

The Danes had to come from behind three times before finally getting the winner deep into the second half, thanks to Peter Ankersen's second goal of the game.

The away side started fast and put Esbjerg under pressure early on, before the Danish side sprang into life.

First Mick van Buren fired wide from just inside the box, then Emil Lyng saw his turn and shot well saved.

It was Saint-Etienne who took the lead though, when Franck Tabanou's free kick squirmed through the wall and past the goalkeeper into the bottom corner midway through the first half.

Esbjerg responded with a free kick of their own five minutes later, when Ankersen found the top corner with a much more spectacular effort from just outside the box.

The visitors took the lead again just before the break thanks to Romain Hamouma, who struck the ball powerfully into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

Saint-Etienne continued to pour forward after half time, but a stubborn defence thwarted them on several occasions, before a second equaliser for the home team from Van Buren, who bundled in after a poorly defended corner.

Five minutes later, the French side went ahead again when Hamouma produced an improvised finish to score his second from a corner.

The Saint-Etienne defence were found wanting once more with 15 minutes to go. Hans Henrik Andreasen was somehow able to evade to markers and head the ball in from a free kick to make it 3-3.

A dramatic conclusion ensued with Esbjerg finally taking the lead with another curling free kick from long range, courtesy of Ankersen.

Despite pushing forward, Esbjerg failed to find a fifth goal and will take a slender lead to France for the return leg.