Auxerre, France – For the first time in months, AJ Auxerre finally got a vital win, defeating Montpellier HSC 1-0 at Stade de l'Abbe Deschamps on Sunday. The win came after a tense encounter filled with drama and missed opportunities.
The decisive moment happened in the 81st minute when Florian Ayé, with precision, scored from close range after receiving a pass from Ki-Jana Hoever. This goal sparked relief among the local fans as Auxerre aimed to build momentum for the remaining matches.
Despite having less possession throughout the match, Auxerre saw several chances that could have sealed the game sooner, but their finishing lacked sharpness. Ayé’s goal was only the team’s second shot on target in the entire match.
Auxerre entered the match after a 1-1 draw against OGC Nice, and coach Jean-Marc Furlan stressed the importance of this home game for their survival hopes in Ligue 1. “Each match counts at this stage of the season, especially at home,” he said. “We need to make the most of our chances.”
Montpellier, however, continued their troubling streak, having lost all six of their previous matches in Ligue 1. Despite the bad record, they managed to create several late opportunities, notably with Wahbi Khazri, who had two decent shots that went off target in the dying minutes.
In the 90th minute, Khazri’s shot went high after the team had a free-kick situation. His manager also emphasized the need for improvement. “We have to work on our finishing; it’s been a season full of missed opportunities for us,” Montpellier’s coach remarked.
The match saw a couple of substitutions with Paul Joly coming on for Auxerre, replacing Hoever, and Wahbi Khazri returning for Montpellier in place of Jordan Ferri. Earlier occasions had witnessed yellow cards given to Han-Noah Massengo and Bamo Meïté, illustrating the intense competition on the pitch.
As the final whistle blew, the victory not only strengthened Auxerre’s position in the table, pulling them further away from the relegation zone, but it intensified the pressure on Montpellier, who now sit firmly at the bottom. Coach Michel Der Zakarian kept his head high during post-match interviews, asserting that he would keep pushing his team, despite the setbacks.
With this match, Auxerre now marks an important step towards securing their Ligue 1 spot for next season, while Montpellier faces a critical juncture that could define their fight for survival.
