Auxerre 1-1 Sedan (3-0 on pens): Revenge is sweet if not nervy
By: Dean |
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Coupe de France
AJ Auxerre 1-1 CS Sedan (Jelen 27, Allart 41) Auxerre win 3-0 on penalties
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Auxerre are through to the last 16 of the Coupe de France after overcoming a dogged Sedan side at the Stade Abbe Deschamps. The win for Jean Fernandez’s men sees them exact revenge on Sedan – the team who knocked Auxerre out of the Coupe de la Ligue back in September.
A smartly taken goal by Ireneusz Jelen in the first half was cancelled out in the second by Alexis Allart, as the game was decided on penalties after both sides failed to provide a winner. The hosts won the shoot-out 3-0 thanks largely to Remy Riou between the sticks along with Hengbart, Birsa and Pedretti who all converted their spot-kicks.
The opener saw the inspirational Benoit Pedretti orchestrate things, before Jelen aptly applied a cynical finish. The home side fell into cruise control, were guilty of profligacy in front of goal, then quickly found themselves on level-pegging again thanks to Allart and a comedy of errors from Remy Riou. The equaliser was clumsy to say the least on the part of Riou, and it clearly startled Auxerre who never looked as threatening after the interval.
The game also marked the first professional appearance of Yaya Sanogo who turned 17 today. Sanogo played alongside Jelen, but the precocious striker failed to grab a foothold in the game.
Next up for Auxerre in the cup will be meet Plabennec on the 9th or 10th of February.
Category: Auxerre Team News
Auxerre win leaves OGC Nice in Anarchy
By: Dean | Add Comments
As one (tiny) section of the Stade Municiple du Ray Nice went into joyous pandemonium amid a last-gasp winner from Ireneusz Jelen, the rest were seething with rage. The goal made it three defeats out of three in 2010 for OGC Nice, their last victory appearing back in November – a 1-0 home win against Toulouse. This time around, their supporters were keen to have their say.
After the final whistle the home fans looked to vent their frustration at any member associated with their “beloved” club. Flares were thrown and soon enough the supporters wanted everyone out. Their manager Didier Olle-Nicolle was ordered to resign – then the chairman; and finally, in a rather indirect but nevertheless distasteful manner, their star striker Loic Remy was spat at during altercations outside the building. The player now looks certain to bid au revoir to a club that seems in the very midst of anarchy.
As this is an Auxerre blog, I’ll leave it at that. Click here for more mayhem.
Category: Auxerre Team NewsNice 0-1 Auxerre: Jelen provides last-gasp winner
By: Dean | 1 Comment
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. That man being Ireneusz Jelen.
Okay, so the goal occurred in controversial circumstances, yet the Polish striker still had plenty to do. Replays showed Jelen was at least a yard or two offside when the inventive Daniel Niculae played him in. Clean through deep into injury time, Jelen managed to keep a cool head drilling low past the onrushing David Ospina.
Despite some nervy moments, the away side’s performance boosted an impressive cv. They held firm defensively, and on the odd occasion when the visitors were unlocked, rookie Remy Riou was on hand to help restore serenity. The tireless Birsa was a constant thorn for the hosts – as was Niculae (my man of the match) – and Jelen, well, the striker was at times impossible to tie down.
Auxerre started the match with intent and were eager to test Nice’s goalkeeper, as Niculae’s guided header to Jelen almost saw the frontman grab the opener after a matter of minutes. Nice hit back within seconds though, Anthony Mounier bringing the best out of Riou with a fierce drive that was acrobatically dealt with by the ‘keeper.
Didier Olle-Nicolle’s side could have gone in at half-time a goal up, had Loic Remy decided to shoot instead of delaying repeatedly until the ‘keeper jumped at the chance to steel possession from under his nose. Then it was Auxerre, and Jelen, who rejected the chance to finish the opening half ahead. It was Niculae/Jelen combo again, as Niculae threaded a perfectly timed through ball to Jelen who was denied by a strong one-handed save by Ospina.
With Remi looking unbeatable in goal, he was finally beaten in injury time when a ambitious strike from Kafoumba Coulibaly inside the penalty area left him stranded. Thankfully, the crossbar headed it clear!
Then, three minutes into injury time, Jelen popped up with the all important match-winner. Like I said, the finish was clinical. Clean through on goal, with plenty of time to either pick the right spot or the wrong one, Jelen chose the former and with it granted the hosts all three precious points.
Auxerre are back to winning ways. Jelen is back!
Category: Auxerre Team NewsNice preview: stats no lie
By: Dean | 3 Comments
It will come as no surprise to hear that Auxerre’s defence is one of the best in Ligue 1.
Going into week 21 of the season Auxerre have conceded 15 goals in 20 games, the second best defensive record in the league – below pace-setters Bordeaux who have conceded a measly 13. Yet, things do not bear well at the other end, with Auxerre netting 19 goals in 20 – not even reaching a goal per game ratio.
And if you look a little closer at the statistics for away games, out of those 19 precious goals Auxerre have scored five on their travels. Yes, they’ve also only conceded four, but it is still alarming – particularly going into tonight’s match away to Nice. So – although I’m not suggesting a win is unlikely – just don’t expect the unexpectedness. One goal, as always, will be enough for whoever manages to get it.
Brief team news is that Auxerre may well have Jelen back despite the forward being absent from training on Monday and Tuesday due to a family bereavement. Which is more than welcomed due to the continual absence of Julien Quercia and now Dennis Oliech (suspended/ankle sprain).
Dangerman
Loic Remy Position: Striker Age: 23
Dubbed the ‘new Thierry Henry‘ due to his lighting pace and athleticism. Another invaluable component to his game is his strength, which allows him at times to brush off heftier challenges from brute defenders. Whilst his composure in front of goal is admirable and is another reason why reports suggest the youngster is on Arsene Wenger’s radar.
Category: Auxerre Team NewsAuxerre and Boulogne play out stalemate, again
By: Dean | 1 Comment
Auxerre’s first League game back from the winter break was a somewhat subdued affair, as both sides – much to the delight of the away side – played out an uneventful goalless draw.
To suggest Auxerre were firing blanks is relatively correct: 14 attempts at goal, with four on target isn’t jaw-dropping. Yet the home side were out – particularly in the second half, once the festive odyssey had finally dissipated – to grab the win. And rightly so at home against a team lying second from bottom – a team who have finished victorious away from home on only one encounter out of 11 – a 1-0 win back in September against fourth from bottom, St. Etienne.
Whilst scoring a scant five goals and conceding a generous 15, it’s no wonder Boulogne left the Stade Abbe Deschamps gleefully. Saying that, the visitors should have found themselves in front, after neat build-up play down the left resulted in a free Jeremy Blayac in the box, who succeeded in firing high and wide.
It’s very difficult to muster up a positive point in light of the result or the performance. Chances were few and far between, and if I’m honest, a draw was a fair result. If I remove my pessimistic hat for a moment or two, a clean sheet is always warmly welcomed (Okay, I know it was a home game and against Boulogne!). Apologies, but that’s all I’ve got in me right now.
Next up is a tricky away game versus Nice on Wednesday night. Nice have been on a terrible run recently, losing four out of their last six encounters. Having beaten them 2-0 at home last September, it would be lovely to bang in some valuable goals and replicate the same score-line like we managed against Boulogne.
Category: Auxerre Team NewsBetter late than never – I hope!
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Auxerre’s cup tie against third division outfit Amiens SC at the Stade de la Licorne has been postponed due to a frozen pitch. The match was called off by the French Football Federation on Wednesday evening despite the Friday fixture still two days away.
Amiens attempted to rescue the game on Wednesday, but their efforts to use giant blow heaters to circulate hot air in a bid to combat the severity of frost on the pitch, proved ineffective.
The match has been rescheduled for Monday the 11th of January at 20:30. If the game is postponed for a second time, the tie will be played on Wednesday the 13th and moved to Auxerre’s home stadium, Stade de l’Abbé-Deschamp.
There is also a matter of reshuffling for Auxerre manager Jean Fernandez as both defender Adama Coulibaly and Olivier Sorin are out injured.
Mali international Adama Coulibaly was already scheduled to miss January due to his participation in the African Cup of Nations in Angola. Coulibaly has been an unsung hero in the Auxerre back four, and so it will come as a massive blow that Fernandez will have to make do without him until mid-February die to medical knee ligament damage.
Sorin has performed heroics between the sticks so far this season, but after going through an examination last Monday, it was confirmed he had suffered a fracture to a finger and so will now be out of action until February at the earliest.
It is likely former Lyon goalkeeper Remy Riou will cover for Sorin, whilst Fernandez may well look to position Grichting into central defence and recall either Jeremy Bethod or Dariusz Dudka at left-back.
Category: Auxerre Team NewsMarseille 0-2 Dennis Oliech: Christmas comes early for AJA
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Auxerre condemned Marseille to their 2nd home defeat of the season tonight, in what was another professional performance by Jean Fernandez’s team. The away side’s last win over Marseille at the Velodrome also came in December – in 2004.
Contained in an Auxerre win, you generally get a clean sheet – dogged defending from the front to the back – and a polished goal or two – never any more. Simple, yet effective – precisely what AJA delivered this evening.
The away side finish the year in 5th position, level on points with Marseille, who have played one game fewer than the Burgundy club.
A brace from Dennis Oliech capped an accomplished offensive display. He started on the right of Roy Contout and was a continual threat whenever Marseille were on the defensive. The Kenyan striker possesses undoubted power and blistering pace, yet it was the timing of his runs and the composure he showed for both strikes, that caught the eye. Playing off a frontman, particularly from a wide position – produces the best in Oliech. When he manages to channel those physical traits correctly, the 24-year-old is like an express train.
Contout – who operated at the spearhead of what was largely a three man attack – was a constant terrier, with his direct style proving very effective. His assist for the second was exquisite and the highlight of another impressive performance on the back of the previous against Toulouse, in which he bagged his first for the club.
Jean Fernandez said after the match that his side proved worthy winners throughout the 90 minutes thanks largely to Oliech, and suggested the win was an early Christmas present for their fans.
Captain Benoit Pedretti agreed, and despite admitting the home side may well have had an off day, he believes the win and the performance by Auxerre allows everyone at the club to go into 2010 on the front foot.
Category: Auxerre Team NewsMarseille 0-1 Auxerre: Half time
By: Dean | 1 Comment
A cynical finish by Dennis Oliech – Auxerre’s only attempt on target – separates the two teams going in at half time. Chances were few and far between, with the best falling to Bakari Kone, who was given his marching orders for an alleged elbow on Valter Birsa, only for the referee to overturn his decision.
Full time Marseille 0-2 Auxerre: Oliech (40, 79)
Category: Auxerre Team NewsMarseille v Auxerre: The teams
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Many see tonight’s match as the final chance for the gifted and notorious Hatem Ben Arfa to prove his worth to Marseille manager Didier Deschamps before the January transfer window opens.
A win for Auxerre would see them join Marseille on 32 points and end a very productive 2009 on a high.
Here’s how the two teams line-up:
Marseille: Mandanda – Bonnart, Diawara, Heinze, Taiwo – Lucho Gonzalez, Mbia, Cheyrou (c) – Kone, Brandao, Ben Arfa.
Auxerre: Sorin – Hengbart, Grichting, Coulibaly, Mignot – Pedretti (c), Dudka – Oliech, Niculae, Birsa – Contout.
Category: Auxerre Team NewsPre-Marseille v. Auxerre: Good things come in 4?
By: Dean | 3 Comments
Firstly, apologies for my houdini act.
But I’m back now – so I’d better make up for lost time.
I’m told many things come in three. Some say good things, others bad. Having drawn the last three – 0-0 v. Lorient and then Valenciennes, before a 1-1 draw at home to Toulouse – it’s difficult to pinpoint whether this is a positive thing for Auxerre, or not.
Okay. The first two proved to be very difficult games. In both, the home side had more than the lions share of possession, and with regards to the match v. Valenciennes, it seemed more of a point gained than two spurned. You could arguably say the same for the match against Toulouse. After going a goal down, Auxerre fought back admirably and after missing a number of key chances, finally got a deserved equaliser. The equaliser by Contout – his first for the club – was well taken. The former Metz forward calmly slotted in the 89th minute to cap a fine individual display.
Worringly, Auxerre haven’t won since mid-November – 2-0 at home to Monaco to go top – and have looked inept in front of goal without Jelen, yet his return has brought only more misery. Hitting the back of the net is currently few and far between, with only two goals in the last five unearthing an abysmal DDDLL record. Jelen has long been identified as Fernandez’s fox in the box – the cherry on the top. Only the Polish international has played in the last three, hasn’t scored in any, and is now out until January.
However, there are many positives to gather from two clean sheets away from home and a courageous 1-1 draw against Toulouse. The team’s still defensively sound – albeit with a little luck along the way. And with regards to Roy Contout, Auxerre may have at their disposal another goalscorer in the making. The goal against Toulouse was admirable in both its simplicity and calmness. Yes it was an isolated incident, but a crucial one which earned his side a significant point. 
The ingredients are there for Contout to improve. He is very tricky, largely due to his pace and ability to take up effective positions on the pitch. It would be incorrect to suggest Contout is technically gifted, yet what he lacks in artistry he makes up in his direct approach. Consistency is the key to a world class player, so only time will tell.
Up next is Marseille tomorrow night at the Stade Velodrome. Another draw would be nice. Maybe good things come in 4?
Category: Auxerre Team News
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