Angu Lesley Ngwa Akonwi
Football Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon
AJ Auxerre breathed new life into their survival hopes with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over FC Metz, and Cameroon-born forward Danny Namaso played a key role by setting up the decisive goal late on.
Both sides entered the match deep in relegation trouble — Auxerre 18th, Metz 17th — and the tension showed early. The home fans were lifted in the 36th minute when Lassine Sinayoko converted a penalty awarded after a VAR review. Just four minutes later, Oussama El Azzouzi doubled the advantage, putting Auxerre firmly in control.
Metz, however, refused to sink quietly. In first-half stoppage time, Gauthier Hein curled a superb free-kick past the goalkeeper, dragging the visitors back into the contest and setting up a nervy second half.
The restart brought intensity but little clarity, with both teams trading half-chances and both managers turning to their benches. Auxerre thought they had sealed the victory in the 88th minute, only for VAR to rule out their goal once again.
Moments later, they finally killed the game — and Namaso was at the heart of it. The forward showed great awareness on the edge of the box before teeing up Kevin Danois, who struck cleanly from distance to make it 3-1 in the 89th minute. The assist capped a composed performance from Namaso, whose decision-making proved vital on a pressure-filled afternoon.
The win ends Auxerre’s five-match winless run and lifts them above Metz in the standings — a major psychological boost in a heated relegation fight. For Metz, the loss halts the momentum of three wins in their last five matches and piles fresh pressure on their bid to stay afloat in Ligue 1.
For Auxerre and for Namaso, this could be a turning point.
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