TOPS
AJ Auxerre is rising from its ashes. The Burgundians fought throughout the season and during these two play-offs to find the elite of French football. The men of Jean-Marc Furlan, coach who has the most accessions to Ligue 1, were superior to the Stéphanois. Auxerre had to go all the way to a penalty shoot-out to secure their ticket to Ligue 1. Almost 10 years after descending to the bottom tier, AJ Auxerre are finally reuniting with the elite of French football and putting end to his purgatory. Very happy, the players could not celebrate their victory because of the overflows and are impatiently waiting to return to celebrate this as it should be with the people of Auxerre.
The AJA goalkeeper produced a high-flying performance in the Burgundian goals. Donovan Léon first won his face to face against Bouanga in the 2nd minute of the match. The 29-year-old doorman then released a very nice curling shot from Aouchiche by relaxing on his left (30th). In the second half, Léon put Nordin in check (48th) and made a superb save with his foot once again against Bouanga (87th). Then, the 29-year-old goalkeeper definitely became AJA’s hero by taking Boudebouz’s first shot on goal which allowed his team to return to Ligue 1 next season.
A decisive entry into play for Enzo Crivelli. The Stéphanois striker entered in the 62nd minute when the Greens were down 1-0 and without a solution. Crivelli brought his dynamism and a point of attachment from his first balloons. It is he who places a head badly judged by Léon who clears for a corner. On this one, Crivelli is still there to regain the lead before Camara deflects to equalize (75th). The Saint-Etienne striker was voluntary and brought a lot to an uninspired Saint-Etienne formation. He was able to maintain hope until the fatal penalty shootout at the Greens.
To read alsoAnger of the supporters, throwing of smoke bombs, invaded ground… Surreal scenes after Saint-Etienne-Auxerre
FLOPS
The Saint-Etienne coach failed to achieve a second feat after saving Toulouse 2019. Against Auxerre, his team did not show a happy face. His men were dominated by the Burgundians and showed nothing in the game except for the first 10 minutes of each half. Too little to hope to stay in the elite. In his technical area, Pascal Dupraz did not breathe serenity and was very annoyed. His defender, Eliaquim Mangala even had to ask him to calm down. One day savior of the TFC, the next day responsible for the descent of the Greens, football goes fast.
The Greens striker was associated with Romain Hamouma at the forefront of the attack. Wahbi Khazri did not weigh on the Burgundian defense. The captain from Saint-Etienne, who had the keys to the truck, did not manage to take the game on his own and his team was sorely lacking in inspiration and solutions in the game. He sent a free kick ideally placed into the wall (12th). Not in his match, the Tunisian was replaced in the 62nd minute by Enzo Crivelli who brought a lot.
Finalists in the Champions League in 1976 and ten times champions of France, which is a record, AS Saint-Etienne descended to Ligue 2 after their defeat on penalties in the play-offs against Auxerre. It was on penalties that the future of the two teams was decided and Ryad Boudebouz, who saw his penalty saved by Léon, condemned AS Saint-Etienne to return to Ligue 2 almost 20 years later ( 2004). At the end of the penalty shootout, the Saint-Etienne supporters invaded the lawn of Geoffroy-Guichard and threw a large number of smoke bombs to try to get into the corridor leading to the locker rooms. Throughout the game, the fans of Saint-Etienne demanded the resignation of the management currently in place. They were quickly dispersed by the police. An official statement from the club at the end of the match also indicated that immediate and important changes were going to take place, such as the sale of the club in particular.
