ESTAC Troyes were less than five minutes from victory over AJ Auxerre after Rony Lopes' opener, but Gaëtan Perrin struck back in the dying embers of the game is it ended 1-1 at the Stade de l'Aube
THE MATCH
Auxerre made the one-hour journey north to Troyes with the hosts four places but only one point above them in the table, and they started brightly. The fit-again Gaëtan Charbonnier came in for the suspended M'Baye Niang and headed an early chance over the bar (15'). Julian Jeanvier then came even closer with a header from a corner which somehow drifted past the post (18') before Gauthier Hein's smart backheel went wide (19'). But Troyes weathered that early storm and soon started creating chances of their own. Yoann Salmier missed the target with another header from a corner (22') before Rony Lopes saw an effort shave the crossbar (25'). There was no keeping Lopes out minutes later, though. Mama Baldé - who scored twice in Saturday's narrow 4-3 loss to Paris Saint-Germain - skipped past Rayan Raveloson before squaring for Lopes, and the Portuguese fired home first time (48).
Auxerre fight back
Raveloson got done for the goal, but he looked to make amends early in the second half with a thumping shot from the edge of the Troyes box which cannoned back off the post (56'). Troyes then thought they had a penalty at the other end when Gideon Mensah fouled Baldé, but referee Pierre Gaillouste changed his decision to a free-kick on reviewing VAR (58'). Raveloson was getting forward well, and he was unlucky to see Gauthier Gallon leap on a cross which was intended for Nuno Da Costa (67'). Gallon's opposite number Benoît Costil was then called into action to keep Renaud Ripart out (70') before Baldé flashed another attempt high of the Auxerre goal (75') but Auxerre had the final say when Lassine Sinayoko cut back for Perrin to stroke home for 1-1 (86'). Baldé could have snatched the win at the last but Costil forced his shot over (89') and it ended honours even.
THE PLAYER: Benoît Costil
Perrin may have got the goal which secured a share of the points but Costil gave him and his teammates the platform to do so. The long-time Stade Rennais FC and Girondins de Bordeaux goalkeeper make six saves on Friday, and with Hugo Lloris and Mike Maignan enduring injury troubles ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup, Didier Deschamps could do worse than take another look at the once-capped shot-stopper for France in Qatar.
THE STAT: 10
Guinea-Bissau striker Baldé is the only African player across Europe's five major leagues per UEFA coefficient to have been involved in 10 goals this season. The former right-back has found the target seven times as well as laying on three assists in his 14 Ligue 1 Uber Eats games this season, and is fast becoming a player attracting the attention of bigger clubs in France and beyond.
