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Youssouf Hadji scored twice as Rennes beat Auxerre 3-1 to hand their under-fire Coach Laszlo Boloni a lifeline on Saturday.
Rennes had conceded 16 goals in their first five matches, including a humiliating 6-0 reverse against promoted Nancy last time out, and speculation was rife that Raynauld Denoueix was standing by to replace Boloni in the event of a home defeat.
But the Romanian trainer will have been encouraged by his players’ reaction tonight, as they claimed their second win of the season with a spirited display.
After a tense first half, Rennes went in front shortly after the break thanks to one of Boloni’s summer signings. Olivier Monterrubio’s swirling corner was headed home powerfully by Hadji to send the Stade de la Route de Lorient wild. The goal seemed to lift a weight off the Rennes players shoulders and they were soon bombing forward at every opportunity.
Poor defending from Auxerre allowed Kim Kallstrom to pick up possession deep in the visitors’ half and he slid Monterrubio through for the midfielder to finish with aplomb.
Auxerre maintained the suspense when their exciting young striker Vassiriki Abou Diaby pulled one back. A member of the France side that won the Under-19 European Championship, Diaby latched onto a Benjani header and rifled a right-footed shot past Andreas Isaksson from the right side of the box.
But it was Rennes’ night and Hadji soon sealed victory with his second goal. The Moroccan international played a one-two with his skipper Cyril Jeunechamp and when Jeanechamp’s shot was parried by Fabien Cool, Hadji was on hand to prod home.
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