French resistance denies Boavista

AJ Auxerre 0-0 Boavista FC (Auxerre win 1-0 on aggregate)
A goalless home draw against Boavista FC took AJ Auxerre into the first group stage of the UEFA Champions League while for the first time, Portugal will have no club in the Europe's blue-riband competition.

Auxerre hold firm
Auxerre, who reached the quarter finals of the competition in their last appearance in the 1995/96 season, held their nerve on home territory to deny their Portuguese visitors a place in the first group stage. They join fellow countrymen RC Lens and Olympique Lyonnais in tomorrow's draw.

Cool in action
The French side had to sustain a significant challenge from Boavista and goalkeeper Fabien Cool received an early indication of what lay ahead when he was forced to make a save from Luis Claudio's fierce long-range shot. With Bosingwa and Duda linking up well down the right flank, Cool was called into action again after 40 minutes making a swift challenge to deny Duda when he was clear through on goal.

Lonely figure
French international striker Djibril Cissé did his best to cause problems at the other end, but with Boavista keeping up consistent pressure on the Auxerre defence, he was rarely able to provide a serious threat.

Third striker
Boavista coach Jaime Pacheco brought on a third striker in the second half to attempt to force home his side's territorial advantage, but Martelinho's arrival, replacing midfield player Jorge Couto, failed to make the kind of impact the coach would have hoped.

Kapo goes close
Indeed, Auxerre had a good chance to settle their nerves with 20 minutes to go when Olivier Kapo was played through on goal by Yann Lachuer, but the Ivory-Coast-born midfield player - who earlier in the day received his first call-up to the French national side - could not find the target.

Space and time
In the closing minutes, Cissé found he had far more space in attack and twice passed up good opportunities when played through by incisive passes from Kapo and Amdy Faye, but as the final whistle blew, bringing relief to the French contingent in the crowd, it was Boavista who were left ruing missed chances.