Auxerre vs. Bordeaux

Two solid defensive blocs largely canceled each other out in the first period, but the game itself was not without incident. Les Girondins tended to have had the upper hand in the first half and increasingly dominated play, however, they could not take any of the chances that came their way.

The first opening fell to left-sided midfielder Wendel, but his shot was kicked away by Olivier Sorin, who was rather unemployed in the home net for much of the first period. Around the half hour mark Bordeaux began to mount significant pressure.

Jaroslav Plasil had a half chance after good play from Marouane Chamakh but shot into Sorin’s arms before the goalkeeper excelled by saving a poor Fernando Cavenaghi penalty.

After being dominated in the first half, AJA looked more lively after the interval and would go close to pulling ahead in the early stages of the period. Daniel Niculae forced Cedric Carrasso into his first save of the evening on 50 minutes, before the keeper looked on gratefully as Ireneusz Jelen sent a shot past his post when through on goal.

Such pressure would tell, as Auxerre were awarded a penalty for a foul on Cedric Hengbart by Michael Ciani. Valter Birsa struck positively into the net.

Rather than Bordeaux enjoying the best late chance, it would be AJA who would go closest, with Jelen cracking a shot off Cedric Carrasso’s bar as les Girondins’ uneasy spell continues.