AJ Auxerre 1 - 0 Lens

Auxerre 1-0 Lens

Updated: March 18, 2007, 3:50 PM ET

Le Sang et Or crashed out of the UEFA Cup on Wednesday with a 3-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen, and things barely improved on Sunday.

They fell behind to Thomas Kahlenberg`s goal after 16 minutes and never found a way back into the game.

Kanga Akale was the architect of the goal as he led a lightning counter-attack for the hosts.

He found the rampaging Kahlenberg who controlled the ball before beating Charles Itandje with a neat shot across the keeper.

Benoit Cheyrou had the chance to double the lead five minutes later when he latched onto a cross from the left, but his volley went wide.

On the half-hour mark, Ireneusz Jelen embarked on a solo attack, taking the ball past three defenders before putting his shot just over the bar.

Lens had the chance to level 10 minutes before the break, but Yohan Demont could only shoot straight at Olivier Sorin when the ball fell to him following a scramble in the penalty area.

Auxerre were on the front foot again after the break, and Kahlenberg`s volley forced Itandje to punch, while at the other end, Vitorino Hilton`s shot drew a similar save from Sorin.

Jelen looked set to extend Auxerre`s lead after 64 minutes when he was through on the goalkeeper, but Hilton somehow managed to get back to clear the danger.

A tiring Lens side struggled to create many chances, with Olivier Monterrubio`s shot just over the bar their best effort.

And they could have been two down in stoppage time, had it not been for Itandje, who produced a great save to keep out Jelen`s header from Daniel Niculae`s cross.