Auxerre 2-1 Nice player ratings, Mara inspires, Abdul Samed fades | OneFootball

Auxerre beat Nice 2-1 in a pivotal meeting between relegation play-off rivals, sparked by Sékou Mara’s equaliser. Salis Abdul Samed endured a difficult evening.

L'Équipe notes that Mara was the standout for the hosts while Abdul Samed offered little influence. Mara had gone a year without scoring, then struck twice in the 3-1 win over Angers and now has three in two matches.

Nice struck first in the ninth minute, Diop finishing after Cho left Bryan Okoh trailing and the ball ricocheted off goalkeeper Donovan Léon. Okoh injured his knee in the incident and was replaced by Akpa in the 13th minute.

Auxerre levelled on 27 minutes when Mara calmly swept in with his right foot after Antoine Mendy’s poor central clearance from a Namaso cross.

After the break Léon thwarted Cho, then Lassine Sinayoko made it 2-1 in the 70th minute from an Ahamada pass, beating Yéhvann Diouf at his near post for his 10th league goal.

Léon saved again from Abdi and Wahi on 72 and 78 minutes, while Diouf denied Danois on 79 to prevent a larger deficit.

Mara shot over late on, then departed for Casimir on 86 minutes. Abdul Samed was withdrawn early in the second half for Louchet, and Léon enjoyed some fortune at 90.

Ratings reflected the pattern, with Mara and Sinayoko on seven, Léon six, Abdul Samed three, and Mendy and Diouf four. Okoh was not graded.

Source: L'Équipe