Author of the winning goal in added time against Angers this Sunday, November 24 (1-0), as part of the 12th day of Ligue 1, Hamed Junior Traoré is the great architect of the improvement in Auxerre. The AJA is flirting with the top 5.
“We have this little extra thing called Junior (Traoré) and who brings out a nice thorn in our side,” declared Auxerre coach Christophe Pélissier after Sunday’s victory for AJA (1- 0) at home against Angers, in added time, during the 12th day of L1.
The Icaunais club, which remains on four victories and a draw (13 points out of 15) in its last five matches, is sixth in the standings with 19 points, ahead of Lyon (5th) on goal difference while Angers is relegated. 17th and penultimate.
Five goals and one D assist in nine games
Hamed Junior Traoré, a 24-year-old Ivorian international, arrived in Auxerre this summer on loan from the English club Bournemouth. He gave AJA a decisive advantage in the 90th + 3 by scoring his fifth goal of the season in nine games played (an assist).
“We have the capacity to do much better in the game in which we were very poor. We lacked a lot of things in the connections between players, in the precision. So Junior Traoré was very average in the first half, but it “It's he who gives us victory at the end”, admitted Christophe Pélissier.
“We live for these moments. This goal takes us all, it triggers emotion and joy, happiness for the public,” rejoiced the Icaunais technician. “It's true that we're having a good run. The group has the qualities to move forward. Looking at the nature of the match, a draw would have been more logical. Tonight we won, but we saw that we still had many points to improve,” Pélissier said.
For his part, Angers coach Alexandre Dujeux was “very disappointed not to take at least one point” recognizing “the realism of Auxerre”. “It’s hard to lose this match,” he regretted, referring to “a lack of success” from his team. “It’s cruel, but there is this goal at the end of added time. We are fighting to maintain, all the points count. We must continue,” he insisted.
