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Auxerre dropped to third place in Ligue 1 as goalkeeper Gennaro Bracigliano helped Nancy seal an unlikely 1-0 away triumph.
Lyon's defeat at home to Lille must have given Auxerre and the rest of the chasing pack a glimmer of hope that the title is still up for grabs, but like Lyon yesterday Jacques Santini's side got off to the worst of starts. No more than five minutes had elapsed when Bagary Sagna fouled Jonathan Brison in the area, allowing Moncef Zerka to step up and convert from the spot.
Nancy could hardly have hoped for a better opening, yet Auxerre came back at them immediately with Luigi Pieroni shooting just over. The Belgian striker then had a deft header turned out for a corner by Bracigliano, and his strike partner Peguy Luyindula headed over moments later.
The yellow cards were flying as some heavy tackles went in on either side, yet there was no denying the quality of the entertainment and Bracigliano performed heroics to deny Luyindula in a one-on-one duel just after the interval.
It was proving to be a busy evening for the Nancy No 1, and he was called into action soon after to keep out a Thomas Kahlenberg free-kick, before having to race back towards his line to punch clear a Pascal Mignot lob. Pieroni then blasted over yet again, but Auxerre were given fresh incentive when Cédric Lecluse received his second yellow of the game on 81 minutes.
Normally, perhaps, that would have been enough for them to rescue an equaliser. Bracigliano was not about to let all his good work go to waste, though, and he produced two more fantastic saves to thwart Kanga Akalé and Benoît Cheyrou in the dying minutes.
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