Ligue 2 (J25) – Three points in pain in Niort for AJA (1-0), which regains some confidence

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Aligned in their usual 4-1-4-1 but with the surprise Aly Ndom in the middle, holder for only the third time this season (the last was… in the first leg!), the Ajaists suffered somewhat during the first minutes against Chamois inevitably reassembled like cuckoos. Severely beaten in the last three confrontations (14-0 in aggregate score for the Ajaïstes), the 7th in the championship, who remained on two defeats in a row, got the first chance by a former member of the house, Yanis Merdji, found in the second post from a nice center by Samy Benchama. But his half-volley recovery went just above (3rd). The response from Icaun was quick, with first, from outside the area, a powerful shot on target, countered and finally without danger from Hamza Sakhi in the gloves of Quentin Braat (9th), before a fleeing center-shot from the left of Quentin Bernard from the right corner of the zone of truth (15th).

After several sequences of more or less sterile Auxerre possession and several Niortaise incursions in the last 30 meters, Gauthier Hein recalled the good memories of the René-Gaillard stadium. Author of a masterful goal during the last Niort-AJA in April 2021, which had earned him his nomination for the Puskás Prize, ‘Gotcho’, well launched full ball against by Hamza Sakhi on the right side, struck again on the Niortaise lawn , but with its special: left leg pass to catch defender Bradley Mbondo, hook and chained strike from the right – his bad foot – slightly blocked to leave the Niort goalkeeper no chance and sign his fourth goal of the season (0-1 , 33rd). There followed, until the break, a clear domination of the Ajaïstes, who we found rather dashing on a few phases of play, always in motion and applied to defensive returns.

The AJA suffers, bends, but does not break

But on returning from the locker room, the physiognomy of the debates will be completely reversed. Timid during the last quarter of an hour of the first period, daring to indulge less, the Niortais changed gear and it was Auxerre who took the tide. Overwhelmed and much less present in the recovery, the Ajaists will even concede a post on this beautiful diving header from Yanis Merdji, perhaps slightly diverted by Donovan Léon, after a good cross from the right of Bilal Boutobba (55th). In the continuity, ‘Dono’ will release a hot ball in his area but fortunately Théo Pellenard was watching the grain to repel the danger. Much more aggressive in the pressing, the Chamois stifle their opponents who concede another big opportunity, with this one-touch deflection from Niort’s top scorer Ibrahim Sissoko who comes to flirt with the left post (66th). Proof of the helplessness of Auxerre, it will be necessary to wait for the 79th to see the AJA finally hitting the goal in the second half, after a big mess in the Niortaise surface…

Completely overhauled with the entries of Alexandre Coeff, Gaëtan Perrin, Alexis Trouillet and Lassine Sinayoko, Jean-Marc Furlan’s team will not succeed in getting their foot on the ball. And will continue to suffer, and show great solidarity, to preserve the score. The beautiful pivot strike from Trouillet (83rd) will not give anything but opposite, Sissoko will waste several ammunition. One on a powerful free kick full axis but one meter from the stop (87th) but above all, on a strike on the left side at a tight angle in the area stopped by an impeccable Donovan Léon in his exit (90th + 2). In the end, three points acquired with great struggle for an Auxerre formation far from being developed but which is reassured in view of the next deadlines, with this 11th match without conceding a goal (only AC Ajaccio, best defense in the championship , does better with 16 clean sheets). Still 5th, the Icaunais relegate their evening opponent, 7th, to seven points, like Le Havre, 6th, who moves to the Toulouse leader on Monday. The AJA is only two units from the 4th, Sochaux. A very good omen before receiving the 16th, Quevilly-Rouen, next Saturday. The only downside is the upcoming suspension of Gaëtan Charbonnier, warned at Niort for the third time in less than ten matches, and who should be absent from Rodez at the start of March.