Auxerre 1-0 Nice: Cameron Archer settled a tense Ligue 1 night at the Stade de l’Abbé-Deschamps with a 74th-minute winner.
SEO title: Auxerre beat Nice 1-0 as Cameron Archer scores Ligue 1 winner
SEO description: Cameron Archer struck in the 74th minute as Auxerre defeated Nice 1-0 in Ligue 1 on 12 September 2026.
The Ligue 1 news
Auxerre claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over Nice in the fourth round of Ligue 1 on Saturday 12 September 2026, with Archer providing the decisive moment after a match of blocked shots, strong goalkeeping and late pressure from the visitors.
The game had been scoreless for more than an hour when Auxerre broke through. Christ Makosso released Archer with a forward pass and the striker finished from a tight angle on the right, driving his right-footed effort inside the right post in the 74th minute.
It was Archer’s second significant opening in quick succession. A minute before scoring, he had sent a left-footed attempt over after Danny Namaso led an Auxerre counterattack. Earlier, Archer had also seen a shot blocked shortly after the interval and supplied the cross from which Axel Tuanzebe narrowly missed from close range in the first half.
Nice had enough of the ball and enough late set pieces to make the closing stages uncomfortable, but could not find an equaliser. Elye Wahi tested the goalkeeper from the centre of the box in the 78th minute, while Mohamed Abdelmonem fired wide after an 85th-minute corner. Jonathan Clauss then sent a free-kick effort high and off target in stoppage time.
Nice created chances before the break as well. Clauss forced a save from the left side of the area, Axel Witsel had a long-range shot stopped, and Wahi dragged an effort wide after being played through by Clauss. Wahi was also twice caught offside during the opening half.
Auxerre had their own early opportunities. Danny Namaso was denied from inside the area after a pass from Kévin Danois, before missing high later in the opening period. Rémy Labeau Lascary also had a shot saved, and Tuanzebe sent a close-range effort just past the right post following an Archer corner.
The hosts survived a sustained Nice spell after the interval. Witsel and Mohammed Amoura both had attempts blocked, Djibril Coulibaly saw a low strike saved, and Nice won several corners. Wahi’s effort in the 78th minute was also dealt with before Auxerre saw out the remaining minutes.
Auxerre goalkeeper protection came from a defence that dealt with pressure late on, with Tuanzebe also making a close-range header that was saved after Romain Faivre delivered a cross in the 82nd minute.
Both teams had interruptions for injuries. Mamadou Diop required treatment for Auxerre during the first half, while Nice forward Amoura was attended to shortly before the interval. Danois was also treated after the hour mark but continued before being involved in the closing exchanges.
Danois received a yellow card in the 44th minute for dangerous play. Nice’s Coulibaly was booked in the sequence that led to Archer’s winner.
Nice made five substitutions, bringing on Ali Abdi for Niels Nkounkou in the 72nd minute before introducing Isak Jansson, Hicham Boudaoui, Nathan Ngoumou and Sofiane Diop in the 86th minute. Abdelmonem, Witsel, Amoura and Wahi made way.
Auxerre replaced Labeau Lascary with Faivre in the 71st minute, then sent on Naouirou Ahamada and Pierre Ekwah for Namaso and Arthur Piedfort at 81 minutes. Rayan Mandengue replaced Archer late in the match.
There were five minutes of added time at the end, but Nice’s final attacks produced only a Clauss miss and fouls won by Jansson on the left. Auxerre held firm to preserve Archer’s goal and take the points.
