Recap: Auxerre make dramatic winning return to Ligue 1 against Nice

AJ Auxerre 2-1 OGC Nice: The Match

Last season's Ligue 2 Champions welcomed a new-look OGC Nice side in a festival-like atmosphere at Stade Abbé Deschamps as Les Diplomates celebrated their return to the top flight with a dramatic win against Franck Haise's Aiglons. With the momentum and crowd behind them, AJA started the game on the front foot in the early stages and began to put the pressure on Marcin Bulka's goal. Lassine Sinayoko just dragged a shot wide before the ten-minute mark, before Théo Bair mistimed a header following a dangerous delivery from Gaëtan Perrin.

Nice would however begin to settle down, and a passage of passing play saw Gaëtan Laborde released down the left side, with the Frenchman providing a pinpoint floated cross into Mohamed Ali-Cho, whose header looped past AJA goalkeeper Donovan Léon to open the scoring for Les Aiglons (21'). With a goal against the run of play, Auxerre had to react if they wanted to overturn what was a winless run of five games in all competitions against Nice.

Gäetan Perrin sparked into life as he delivered dangerous crosses into the box, one of which finding Japanese international Ado Onaiwu, whose first time strike was weak and didn't trouble Bulka. Elisha Owusu let off a strike from range, but once again Bulka could collect calmly. Les Diplomates would get a deserved equaliser just before the break, as Paul Joly provided a low ball for Rayan Raveloson to strike on the swivel past Bulka (43'). The AJA midfielder scored Auxerre's first goal in Ligue 1 since M'Baye Niang's strike against Lens in June 2023.

Following half-time, Auxerre looked to continue their good work from the first half. Gaëtan Perrin provided a dangerous ball from a freekick on the right side, met by Brazilian centre back Jubal - but his header looped just wide of the post. But once again Les Aiglons would soak up all that pressure and look to deal a blow to the home side, with Bilal Brahimi's freekick testing Dion and Evann Guessand's strike hitting the side netting. AJA's Ravelosen was looking for a second goal, but his strike on the angle would be saved comfortably by Bulka. Donovan Léon had to make a superb save after Nice substitute Jordan Lotomba's downwards header, which was magnificently flicked onto the post.

With the end of the game coming quickly at a stalemate, it looked as if both sides would come away with a point, but Lasso Coulibaly had other ideas as Auxerre headed into injury time. After being substituted on for his Ligue 1 debit , the Ivorian speedster latched onto a long ball and simply dinked the ball wonderfully past Bulka to send Stade Abbé Deschamps into raptures (95+5'). A winning return for AJA in Ligue 1, and in the most dramatic of circumstances, a huge three points for Christophe Pelissier's side.

THE STAT: 

AJ Auxerre have become the first side to come back from defeat to win a game in Ligue 1 this season. Nice have now only won one of their last six matches without Terem Moffi on the pitch.

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