Ligue 1
Angers come from behind to edge Auxerre in Ligue 1 opener
Angers scored twice in the final 20 minutes to secure a 3-1 victory over Auxerre in their opening Ligue 1 match.
Angers kicked off their Ligue 1 campaign with a spirited 3-1 comeback win over Auxerre at the Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps, with goals from B. van den Boomen, H. Djibirin and A. El Ouazzani sealing all three points for the visitors. The match burst into life early when Angers struck in the fifth minute through B. van den Boomen, whose close-range finish put the visitors ahead. Auxerre responded before half-time with a well-worked goal in the 35th minute, as R. Labeau Lascary slotted home from the edge of the box after a clever pass from R. Faivre. The hosts thought they had restored parity early in the second half but were left frustrated as Angers gradually took control. The deadlock was broken in the 70th minute when H. Djibirin capitalised on a dangerous cross from A. El Ouazzani, slotting the ball past the Auxerre goalkeeper to level the score. Angers then took the lead for the first time in the 78th minute, with A. El Ouazzani finding the net himself after a precise delivery from O. Camara caught the home defence out. Despite late pressure from Auxerre, including a flurry of yellow cards in stoppage time, Angers held on to claim a vital opening-day victory. The result leaves both sides without points from their first fixture, with Angers sitting 17th and Auxerre 18th in the early Ligue 1 table. Angers coach Stéphane Gilli will be encouraged by his side's resilience, particularly their ability to score two late goals after trailing at the break. His side lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation and showed plenty of attacking threat throughout the match. Auxerre boss Will Still, meanwhile, will have to address defensive frailties that allowed Angers to score three times at home. His team played in a 4-3-3 setup but struggled to contain the visitors' counter-attacks in the latter stages. The match was officiated by referee H. Ben El Hadj Salem, who issued five yellow cards across both teams as the game opened up in the closing stages. B. van den Boomen was shown a yellow card for Angers in the 28th minute, while Auxerre's E. Legros received a caution just before half-time. The final minutes saw C. Akpa and S. Diomande booked for Auxerre, with P. Peter picking up a late yellow for Angers. Despite the loss, Auxerre can take heart from their first-half performance and the creativity shown by their attacking trio. Angers, on the other hand, will feel fortunate to escape with three points after falling behind early and being outplayed for long periods. The win gives them momentum heading into their next fixture, while Auxerre will look to bounce back quickly in front of their home crowd. Both teams will be keen to improve their defensive solidity, with the goals conceded suggesting there is plenty of room for improvement at the back. The result also highlights the fine margins that often decide matches in Ligue 1, where a single moment of quality can change the entire complexion of the game. Angers will travel next looking to build on this victory, while Auxerre host their next opponent hoping to register their first points of the season.