Aubameyang-Paixao lead OM fightback in 3-2 win over OL | OneFootball

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Igor Paixao hauled OM to a 3-2 win over OL, the Brazilian changing the game and the Gabonese striker settling it late.

According to L'Équipe, Aubameyang started up front with Amine Gouiri not ready, and he toiled through the first hour. Paixao replaced Quinten Timber at the break after a shoulder dislocation, shifted left and cut inside to curl in on 52 minutes.

Paixao then set up Aubameyang for the 81st-minute equaliser, before releasing Ethan Nwaneri in the move that produced the 90+1 winner, finished by the veteran. Those two poacher’s goals were his first in nearly a month, taking him to 12 for the season, second behind Mason Greenwood’s 23.

Recent weeks were testing after heavy minutes during Gouiri’s absence, a turbulent Africa Cup of Nations and a return as a substitute. Roberto De Zerbi urged him to recharge and confidence dipped, yet “Pancho” Abardonado’s 2-2 Strasbourg interim restored trust on the left, and Habib Beye has since backed him despite a timid cameo in the 0-2 defeat at Brest.

Paixao is now OM’s third top scorer on 10 and the club’s record signing produced his best display in a while, recalling September’s 4-0 against Ajax. Here he added an assist and a penultimate pass to his strike, and worked tirelessly on the flank when defending.

Beye said he never needed Sunday to learn of Aubameyang’s finishing and praised his focus. He also enjoyed Paixao’s smile and insisted the Brazilian merits his rewards.

Source: L'Équipe