France: Kahlenberg leads Auxerre over Monaco

Soccerway - 5 January 2006 23:30

AJ Auxerre (SW)

AUXERRE, Jan 5 (SW) - Auxerre kept pace with runaway leaders Lyon on Thursday thanks to a 2-1 win over Monaco.

Danish midfielder Thomas Kahlenberg led Auxerre throughout the match, but it was a Monaco debutant who stole the show early on.

After joining from Valencia during the current transfer window, striker Marco Di Vaio put Monaco in front on the half-hour mark, taking a through-ball from Jaroslav Plasil and slotting home for his first goal for the club.

Kahlenberg helped pull Auxerre level five minutes later after his nifty pass led to a brilliant volley by Peguy Luyindula for a 1-1 score at the half-time interval.

Auxerre would then strike the winner in the 57th minute as Kahlenberg hit a shot from the edge of the area that eluded goalkeeper Guillaume Warmuz.

Auxerre are now in second place, 12 points adrift of Lyon.