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A late equaliser from Jean-Pascal Mignot sealed a point for Auxerre and prevented Saint-Etienne from keeping pace with second-placed Bordeaux.
Les Verts dominated the first half but struggled to break down Jacques Santini’s well-drilled team. Auxerre actually had the first effort on goal, Peguy Luyindula flashing a long-range shot just wide on 12 minutes.
But the better quality football was coming from the home side and they almost went ahead on 34 minutes. Bafetimbi Gomis slid a pass in for Pascal Feindouno who hit a firm shot against the Auxerre post.
Seconds later, Saint-Etienne were ahead. Didier Zokora struck a speculative long pass but after a misunderstanding between Fabien Cool and Johan Radet, Vincent Hognon was on hand to head into the empty net.
Elie Baup’s team threatened to run away with the points after the break, but Cool kept the visitors in with a shout by brilliantly saving a Julien Sablé free kick, then pushing out another Feindouno effort.
Auxerre gained in strength in the closing stages, however, and it was not a complete surprise when they equalised.
The introductions of Benjani and Thomas Kahlenberg gave them more attacking options, and Luigi Pieroni struck a shot just wide on 79 minutes as the alarm bells started ringing in the home defence.
Kahlenberg then set up the equaliser for Mignot, supplying a superb cross for the central defender to head past Jérémie Janot at the far post.
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