Auxerre share points with St-Etienne in lively draw

On-loan Bournemouth striker Hamed Traore’s eighth goal of the season for Auxerre was not enough as lowly Saint-Etienne grabbed a first-half equaliser and shared the spoils in Ligue 1.

Ivorian and one-time Empoli player Traorè broke the deadlock in the 26th minute on Friday when he took a superb long ball from Elisha Owusu before cutting in from the right and curling a low shot past the despairing Saint-Etienne goalkeeper.

Lucas Stassin levelled in first half stoppage time for Saint-Etienne when he was on hand to nod home on the goal-line after a rebound fell kindly to him following two point-blank saves by Donovan León.

Auxerre have not won a league match since November 24 but their fine early season form means they remain in mid-table at 11th.

The point lifted Saint-Etienne two places to 14th.