The context
Auxerrois and Stéphanois met this Friday evening to open the 19th day of Ligue 1 McDonald's. After having gleaned four points in the first three matches led by Eirik Horneland, the Greens have the opportunity to leave the play-off place at least temporarily in the event of a good result.
The XI
Suspended for accumulation of yellow cards, Benjamin Bouchouari and Louis Mouton, usual midfield starters, therefore remained in Forez and gave way to Mathis Amougou and Lamine Fomba. Sick last weekend, Pierre Ekwah returned to the XI, as did Augustine Boakye, superb scorer against Nantes. The Saint-Etienne rearguard shows no change.
The match
In a “sold-out” Abbé-Deschamps stadium, the Greens played their possession game, but managed to approach the goal mainly through set pieces. On the other side, the first fuse is lit by Joly, with a volley, who does not catch the target (13th). On a long ball, Sinayoko manages to open up a striking position but fortunately, the post rejects her attempt (22nd). A few seconds later, Mickaël Nadé's good reading of the game prevents Perrin from going alone on goal (23rd). Symbol of a strong moment in Auxerre, the locals opened the scoring through Traoré with a strong shot along the post (Auxerre 1-0 ASSE, 27e). The Greens react. After a mix-up in the penalty area, the leather comes back to Pierre Ekwah but his shot goes off target (31st). On a free kick from 20 meters taken by Zuriko Davitashvili, Léon can only push back towards Augustine Boakye. The Ghanaian takes his chance and after a billiard shot, sees the ball reach Lucas Stassin who only has to push with his head to put the scorers back on level terms (Auxerre 1-1 ASSE, 45e).
Back from the locker room, the locals get the first situation. On the volley, again, Joly forces Gautier Larsonneur into a super reflex save (51st). Launched by Lucas Stassin, Augustine Boakye eliminates Léon, but shifts too far to deceive Mensah's last-minute return to his line (59th). In a rather closed meeting during which the Greens held the ball (63% possession), the two teams could, in the last quarter of an hour, glean the three points of success. But Massengo, in pivot, crushes his shot too much to deceive “Larso” (76th) while Lucas Stassin does not wrap his shot enough to catch Léon's top corner (81st). With this point, the Greens temporarily gain two places and are ahead of Rennes and Nantes by one point. The two Breton teams face Monaco and Nantes respectively.
-> Live commentary and match sheet
The sequel
The Greens make two trips! After the Yonne, the North! The Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Lille awaits Eirik Horneland and his men next Saturday February 1st. Kick-off at 9:05 p.m.!
