European game ends nine-a-side after ex-Prem star one of FOUR sent off

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The Ligue 1 match between Auxerre and Lille descended into chaos on Sunday. Four players were sent off in the seven-goal thriller, with Benjamin Andre scoring a late winner for visitors Lille.

The away side went in 1-0 up at the break, though they were a man down after Nathan Ngoy was sent off. At that point, though, there was no sign of the drama to come.

Lassine Sinayoko equalised shortly before the hour mark, but it was soon 10 against 10 as Clement Akpa picked up a second yellow card for the hosts. A Chancel Mbemba own goal gave Auxerre the lead before the high drama of the final 15 minutes.

Former Spurs and Newcastle midfielder Nabil Bentaleb equalised and Soriba Dioaune restored Lille's advantage, only for Sinayoko to equalise from the penalty spot. Parity didn't last long, though, with Andre heading home a Romain Perraud delivery.

Perraud, who played 60 times for Southampton during a spell in England, went from hero to villain moments later. The left-back clashed with Oussama El Azzouzi, with both men sent off, though Lille still clung on for victory.

“It was a bit of a crazy match," Lille boss Bruno Genesio said after the win. "In the first half, we did some good things playing 11 against 11, but the sending-off disrupted us.

"We had a difficult start to the second half, and then it was all about mental strength. The team managed to take the lead, then be caught, and then come back again. I think that perfectly sums up the story of this group, this team, with decisive substitutes, leading players who take the team, like our captain who headed home the winning goal.

"But we paid a heavy price; we have two players sent off and practically no central defenders left for the next match. But I'm proud of my players and our values against a good team.”

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Lille were missing several players through injury, while midfield starlet Ayyoub Bouaddi was unavailable due to suspension. Match-winner Andre admitted the team were "running on fumes" at times, but the victory was a valuable one for Genesio's men.

Victory took them third in the table, three points ahead of Marseille in fourth. However, Roberto De Zerbi has a chance to reclaim third spot with a victory over Monaco in Sunday's late game.

Lille have one more game before the winter break, taking on fourth-tier Lusitanos Saint-Maur in the Coupe de France. After that, they get a bit of time off before returning to league action against Rennes on January 3.

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