The Hindu : AJ Auxerre takes French Cup

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 02, 2003

Sport

Sport - Football

AJ Auxerre takes French Cup

PARIS June 1. AJ Auxerre fought back to beat 10-man Paris St. Germain 2-1 in the French Cup final thanks to late goals by striker Djibril Cisse and defender Jean-Alain Boumsong at the Stade de France on Saturday.

The victory means Auxerre, which finished sixth in the league, qualifies for the first round of next season's UEFA Cup.

PSG took the lead on 21 minutes when Portuguese midfielder Hugo Leal slotted home a cross from Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho in a game that offered the Parisians their last opportunity to avoid finishing the season empty-handed.

However, Leal turned from hero to villain when he was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle on Auxerre defender Philippe Mexes after 66 minutes.

The Burgundy side took advantage of the sending off as Cisse equalised by netting a pass from defender Johan Radet after he ran unchallenged through the PSG defence with 13 minutes left.

Auxerre sealed the game when Boumsong blasted home the winner from close-range a minute from time.

The defeat was another blow for the big-spending club from the capital after it finished 11th in the table last weekend — its worst league record over the last 15 years.

PSG, which will now be coached by Vahid Halilodzic after the controversial Luis Fernandez took charge for the last time yesterday, will be without European football next season.

But despite its win Auxerre faces an uncertain future.

The club has agreed to let go defender Jean Alain Boumpsong, Senegal international midfielder Khalilou Fadiga and influential striker Olivier Kapo at the end of the season.

So far, the trio are still looking to join another side but coach Guy Roux knows he will have a lot of summer homework to revamp a side capable of dealing with a European campaign.

Celtic Glasgow is interested in signing Fadiga while Boumsong, scorer of the winning goal one minute from time, has contacts with Olympique Marseille which is going to play the preliminary round of the Champions League.

Kapo, who earned his first caps for France since coach Jacques Santini took over from sacked Roger Lemerre after the last year's World Cup debacle, would like to join Arsenal.

To add salt to the wound, Roux learned that prolific goal scorer Djibril Cisse was unhappy with Auxerre and would love to move to Liverpool.

On the eve of the French Cup final, 21-year-old Cisse confirmed he would leave if allowed.

``I'm ready to take the risk to go. I have to consider any opportunity which could come up,'' he said.

But Roux confirmed he was reluctant to let the French striker go as his current contract runs until 2007.

``I know that in France deals don't mean anything but in Auxerre when we sign a deal it's to establish links with someone,'' Roux said. ``I can't and I don't want to say much more now. We will have time to review the situation.''

Nothing has been done for promising Philippe Mexes but the international defender is eager to experience another club to boost his chances of playing for France in next year's European championship.

If the situation is not what he would have dreamed of, Roux does not seem to be unduly worried.

Since he started coaching Auxerre in the 1960s, he has won the reputation of a man able to build a team with little known or untried players.

``I have done a lot of things throughout my career and you can be sure that the French Cup was not my last campaign,'' he said. — Reuters

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