|
Jacques Santini's Auxerre pulled off the performance of the evening with an excellent 2-0 success away to title hopefuls Monaco.
The principality club were less than convincing in last weekend's victory over Nancy, and Coach Didier Deschamps clearly has a lot of work to do before their Champions' League qualifier against Betis Sevilla in midweek.
A relatively large crowd gathered to watch the hosts' first home match of the season, but they were deprived of seeing injured new signings Olivier Kapo and Gerard. And, with negotiations still ongoing for Liverpool's Milan Baros, Deschamps was forced to field the outspoken Emmanuel Adebayor alongside Ernesto Chevanton up front.
Santini gave a start to his own controversial striker Benjani Mwaruwari – rumoured to be angling for a transfer – but it was captain Philippe Violeau who gave Auxerre the lead slightly against the run of play.
With 26 minutes gone, new arrival from Brondby Thomas Kahlenberg led a pacy counter-attack, and he demonstrated great vision in teeing up Violeau, who blasted past Flavio Roma on the half-volley.
Chevanton nearly imitated his feat at the other end after being set up by Adebayor, but the stocky Uruguayan's effort sailed high over the bar, and Monaco were soon resorting to sending long balls in search of his strike partner's head.
Auxerre were content to sit back and play on the break, with Kahlenberg continuing to impress in midfield, and their task was made all the more straightforward just before half-time when Monaco left-back Patrice Evra was sent off for a foul that took Bagary Sagna out of the game.
Adebayor did the best he could in difficult circumstances after the break, with his new teammate Toifilou Maoulida again almost invisible, but it always looked more likely that Auxerre would grab the next goal.
Kanga Akalé shot over on the hour mark and substitute Luigi Pieroni fluffed an effort from point-blank range a little later, but the Belgian striker put the game to bed with a diving header after Jean-Pascal Mignot had headed against the post.
The home side's right-back Douglas Maicon sent a thunderous strike against the crossbar with five minutes to go, but, in the end, Auxerre more than deserved their first triumph at the Stade Louis II since the 1997-98 season.
|
