PLAYER RATINGS | Auxerre 2-1 OGC Nice: Auxerre drop Nice into relegation playoff spot with one game to go

Nice would spend the rest of the first half attempting to put the genie back in the lamp and to grasp hold of possession and take the sting out of Auxerre’s game. Early in the second half, Nice would come close to reclaiming their lead. Cho forced a save off Donovan Léon, while Clauss found Diop at the near post, but the winger couldn’t direct his shot to the right side of the posts. 

For a second time in the evening, Nice had the ball in the back of the net when Diop found Juma Bah at a free kick, for the centre-back to head past Léon, but the flag was up before the defender had a chance to think about celebrating. It was down the other end that the goal would count, as minutes later, Lassine Sinayoko’s quick feet sent Kojo Peprah Oppong scrambling before he squeezed home a shot through a tight gap between Yehvann Diouf and the post. 

With this goal, Auxerre leapfrogged Nice out of the relegation playoff spot. Nice needed to do what they had made a recent habit of doing, snatching a draw from the jaws of defeat. Elye Wahi, not yet fully fit, and the luckless Kevin Carlos were thrown on by Claude Puel as he looked for some inspiration. Despite the changes, it was Auxerre who looked the more likely to score as Kévin Danois forced a big save from Diouf. 

Nice would be denied a final twist in the tale as Wahi watched his shot pass through the legs of Léon, before it was cleared off the line by Gideon Mensah. The final whistle would blow shortly after to confirm to Auxerre that their fate would be in their own hands on the last day of the season as they sent Nice into the relegation playoff spot. 

OGC Nice Player Ratings

Yehvann Diouf, 4

He really should have done better at the near post for Auxerre’s winning goal. He did then deny Danois shortly after to prevent the game from being completely out of sight, but the damage was already done.

Kojo Peprah Oppong, 4

Juma Bah, 5

Antoine Mendy, 4

Melvin Bard, 4

A poor throw-in from the left-back allowed Auxerre to win the ball high up the pitch and score in transition. He struggled in his duels with Danny Namaso and was perhaps lucky that the winger’s delivery wasn’t perfect.

Salis Abdul Samed, 5

Hicham Boudaoui, 5

Jonathan Clauss, 6

Sofiane Diop, 6

Mohamed-Ali Cho, 4

Not a great game for the winger, who has, due to injuries, been forced into the role of striker. He probably should have scored in the first half, before Diop tucked away the rebound. He’s very much not a striker, and that became crystal clear when Nice were in search of a goal, and they were forced to turn to Wahi, who wasn’t fit enough to start.

Morgan Sanson, 4

Selected AJ Auxerre Player Ratings

Donovan Léon, 6

Kévin Danois, 7

Danny Namaso, 6

Sékou Mara, 7

A strong first half from the former Southampton and Bordeaux man. He faded somewhat in the second half, but got the crucial goal that gave Auxerre belief.

Lassine Sinayoko, 8

GFFN | Nick Hartland