Multiplex: Auxerre see off Metz, PFC hold Le Havre

Matchday 15 brought a high-stakes afternoon at the bottom of Ligue 1 McDonald's, with Auxerre hosting Metz and Le Havre welcoming Paris FC in two fixtures capable of reshaping the lower end of the standings. After lively openings on both pitches, all four teams reached the midway stage of the first half without breaking through.

At the Stade Océane, Le Havre started well and pinned Paris FC back with early pressure and multiple corner situations. Ndiaye, influential between the lines, came closest to opening the scoring when he cut inside on his right foot and saw his effort deflected onto the post. The Havre bench reacted in frustration, sensing an opportunity missed.

Yet Paris FC gradually found rhythm and showed their threat. After recovering a loose clearance, Ollila struck a superb half-volley that skimmed the angle of Diaw’s goal. Moments later, Kebbal produced the most spectacular individual moment of the game so far, weaving into the box before drilling over. The visitors controlled possession, circulating confidently through Marchetti and Lopez, and seemed increasingly dangerous when breaking into space.

The second half got off to a heated start, as the ball appeared to hit the arm of Loïc Négo and cued protestations from the away side - but after VAR was consulted referee Émeline Rochebilière chose not to point to the spot. Yassine Kechta would be served a pull-back by Issa Soumaré, but the Moroccan's strike was blasted well over the crossbar. Le Havre had a glorious chance to go ahead after VAR adjudged Moustapha Mbow to have clipped HAC substitute Zagadou. Issa Soumaré stepped up but blasted his spot-kick wide, to the surprise of the Stade Océane.

Auxerre lifted off bottom thanks to win over Metz

At Abbé-Deschamps, Auxerre entered under clear pressure. Having not scored at home in more than two months and without a win in nine, Jean-Marc Furlan’s side knew this was a pivotal evening against a direct rival. Metz started better, holding the ball high and showing mobility in wide areas through Hein and Tsitaishvili, but without managing to test Léon.

In response, Sy burst down the right for the hosts and cut back for Namaso, only for his strike to be deflected wide. The situation encapsulated their frustrations: promising sequences, but no decisive finish. Les Diplomates were initially denied when the hosts appealed for handball just before the half-hour mark, Colin appearing to block Namaso's cross with what looked like an arm but replays later showed contact high on the shoulder. The stadium breathed out - but only momentarily.

A few minutes later, Metz were not spared. Namaso again delivered from the right and this time Sané intercepted, but with his elbow clearly away from the body. Though the action was unintentional, VAR summoned the referee to the monitor, and after review, a penalty was confirmed. Auxerre had missed their last spot-kick two matchdays earlier against Lyon but Sinayoko stepped up and converted from the penalty spot with a strike straight down the middle after sending Jonathan Fischer the wrong way (35').

L'AJA then doubled the scoreline just minutes later with a counter-attacking move with a lovely one-two between Oussama El Azzouzi and Sekou Mara, before the former's strike would be saved by Fischer, and then Sadibou Sané cleared the ball into his own net (39').

Then in a flurry of action, Guathier Hein would grab a goal against his former club, and it was a spectacularly-curled direct freekick from around 30-yards which Léon had absolutely no chance of getting a glove on (45'+2). Danny Namaso saw his strike rattle the post before the whistle put an end to a goal-laden first period. Habib Diallo then had two great opportunities to get Metz back on level terms just after the resumption for the second period, the first being off target after a one-on-one situation before Donavan Léon was quick off his line for a second bite of the cherry just minutes later.

Kevin Danois had the ball in the back of the net, but it would get ruled out for offside. Yet only minutes later, the youngster was on hand with a lovely first-time finish on the edge of the box to restore AJA's two-goal cushion.

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