Ligue 2: Auxerre wins at Dunkirk and moves closer to Ligue 1

Trailing for a long time, the leader Auxerre ended up winning 3-1 in Dunkirk and moved closer to the title Monday evening at the end of the 35th day of Ligue 2. With three days to go, it smells good for the climb for Christophe Pélissier and his men who now have 67 points, four lengths ahead of their new runner-up, Saint-Étienne.

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USL Dunkerque, the worst team in Ligue 2 this season at home, remains stuck in 16th place with 41 pts, just four lengths from the red zone. And this is the paradox of the Northerners who nevertheless have the second best record in the championship in the return phase: eight victories, four draws and now four defeats.

However, everything started badly for the AJA. Dunkirk, hitherto harmless, opened the scoring on the very first incursion: the promising Gessime Yassine, launched behind the Burgundian defense, adjusted Donovan Léon with implacable composure (20th). The second goal of the young 18-year-old from Marseillais who arrived this winter in the North.

This lesson in cold realism could have sowed doubt in the visitors' game, especially since Lassine Sinayoko, very active on the attacking front, twice came up against the last Dunkirk rampart (28th, 30th).

Just before the break, captain Jubal thought he would equalize, but his lob from the central circle narrowly missed the target (45 1) then the twirling Hein, Auxerre's top scorer, saw his attempt graze the base of the post.

In their frantic attempt to come back, the Auxerrois exposed themselves to dangerous counterattacks, Benjaloud Youssouf being particularly close to doubling the lead on a cross-shot sent back through the crossbar (37th). Shortly before the hour mark, the AJA finally found the fault... after 17 unsuccessful shots, by Sinayoko who broke away to tackle the ball in the top corner (57th).

Four minutes later, the Burgundians went in front when the former Auxerrois Gaëtan Courtet, surprised by a tense cross, scored against his side. Groggy, the Northerners then offered the break goal to their visitors twenty minutes from the end , Raveloson ending their hopes with a close range goal.

On the next day, Auxerre will host Paris FC on Saturday, 5th and fighting for a rise in Ligue 1, while Saint-Étienne will travel to Guingamp. Angers, 3rd six lengths behind the AJA, will host Pau on Friday.