Auxerre advance despite defeat

Dinu Todoran's second-half penalty gave FC Farul Constanta a deserved 1-0 victory against AJ Auxerre in the second leg of their UEFA Intertoto Cup third-round tie, but it was not enough to earn a place in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup as the French side comfortably advanced 4-2 on aggregate.

Early chances
Needing three goals to win after losing the first leg 4-1, Farul took the game to Auxerre, but struggled to break down the well organised Ligue 1 side. Key Farul players goalkeeper George Curca and central defender Ion Barbu had both surprisingly been dropped to the bench, but in their absence the home side still made chances and both Todoran and Mihai Gurita headed wide when well placed. Auxerre were happy to sit back and look to attack on the break and Luigi Pieroni and Daniel Niculae, who recently joined Auxerre from AFC Rapid Bucuresti, both had opportunities on the counter but were unable to convert.

Cool save
Farul pressed forward at the start of the second half and were rewarded two minutes after the break when Todoran converted from the spot after he had been fouled in the area. Farul dominated the second half and were unfortunate not to get a second goal on 53 minutes. Gurita's header hit the crossbar and at the second attempt another header from Gurita was brilliantly saved on the line by Auxerre goalkeeper Fabien Cool. Farul pressed to the end, but Auxerre were never in any real danger.