..AJ Auxerre ended a long streak of nine matches without a victory by convincingly defeating FC Metz (3-1) in a crucial relegation battle during the 15th round of Ligue 1. Moroccan international midfielder Oussama El Azzouzi was a central and decisive figure in this Auxerre revival.
After Lassine Sinayoko opened the scoring with a penalty in the 36th minute, it was Oussama El Azzouzi who allowed AJA to secure a crucial two-goal lead. In the 39th minute, as the initiator of the collective action, El Azzouzi was superbly assisted by a backheel from Sékou Mara before finishing with a right-footed shot into the net, making the score 2-0, despite the efforts of Jonathan Fischer and Sané to clear the ball from danger.
Even though Metz managed to reduce the deficit just before halftime (2-1), AJ Auxerre maintained its advantage in the second half. Oussama El Azzouzi continued to pose a threat, particularly in the 66th minute when he took a chance: after controlling the pass well, he unleashed a powerful long-range shot, but the ball sailed well over the bar. Ultimately, it was Kevin Danois who scored the confirmation goal in the 89th minute, sealing the victory (3-1).
This goal is particularly significant as it marks Oussama El Azzouzi’s very first goal for AJ Auxerre, a relief after a season start plagued by physical setbacks. Beyond his status as a scorer, the Moroccan midfielder was praised for his overall performance, having been named man of the match.
This success and El Azzouzi’s outstanding performance provide Auxerre with a breath of fresh air in their battle for survival in Ligue 1. The Burgundy club, now 16th with 12 points, has moved out of the last place in the standings, which is now occupied by the Grenats, who sit one point behind.
