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| Langil gives French side hope |
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Auxerre stole a march in the race to progress from Champions League Group G as Steven Langil's strike seven minutes from time gave them victory over Ajax.
With AC Milan conceding an injury-time equaliser to Real Madrid, Auxerre move into second place with the win.
Having led almost all night thanks to Frederic Sammaritano's ninth-minute strike, they suffered a late scare when Toby Alderweireld levelled with 11 minutes left, but Langil stepped in to snatch the win.
It was a game with plenty of chances for both teams but quality finishing was rare on the night.
Urby Emanuelson had sent an early sighter over for the visitors before Sammaritano scored with Auxerre's first chance of the game.
He latched onto Julien Quercia's pass to beat Maarten Stekelenburg with a shot into the right-hand corner of the net.
Demy De Zeeuw could have responded immediately for Ajax, but missed the target from close range.
The chances came thick and fast at both ends, with Valter Birsa heading wide and then sending a 25-yarder left of the target.
At the other end, both De Zeeuw and Rasmus Lindgren tried their luck from long range, but their efforts were blocked.
Quercia headed over for Auxerre as the finishing let both sides down, leaving the goalkeepers little to do other than take goal kicks.
Hot-shot Luis Suarez could do not better, firing wide with his first chance in the 39th minute.
Stekelenburg did not make his first save until five minutes before the break when Birsa headed on target from Benoit Pedretti's free-kick.
The goalkeeper was called on again early in the second half, but easily held Cedric Hengbart's long-range shot.
Adama Coulilaby had a good chance to double Auxerre's lead 10 minutes into the second half, but headed over from close range after meeting Pedretti's cross.
Olivier Sorin had had little to do but showed he was still alert as he got down to parry away Suarez's shot on the hour mark.
But Ajax were still sending most of their chances wide, with Suarez, De Zeeuw and Mounir El Hamdaoui all wasteful in front of goal.
However, they finally found an equaliser in the 80th minute, with Alderweireld meeting Suarez's cross from the left to head home.
They were level for just four minutes before Langil finished from close range, earning Auxerre the points.
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