A second-half collapse saw Sochaux's goals-against tally for the week fly out to ten as they were crushed 4-1 by Auxerre.

Five days after shipping six against Rennes, Mehmed Bazdarevic's men looked to have banished any lingering memories of that drubbing when they took a second-minute lead through Modibo Maiga.

But Alain Traore equalised six minutes after the break and, by the end of the 67th minute, Dennis Oliech had registered a 15-minute hat-trick to stun Sochaux and push his side into 11th place.

The coach changed things around at the break. And it worked well.
Alain Traore, Auxerre midfielder

"The coach [Laurent Fournier] changed things around at the break," explained Traore. "We started pressing Sochaux higher up the pitch, capitalising on the gaps in their defence. And it worked well."

It had not looked like ending that way early on, though, with Maiga scoring inside 120 seconds when he converted after Yassin Mikari gained possession when Willy Boly failed to clear Teddy Richert's punt down field.

Sochaux impressed after the goal and Marvin Martin embarked on a powerful run that ended with his 30-yard drive being clawed away by Olivier Sorin. Auxerre were the next to threaten, Roy Contout's cross causing chaos and Richert doing well to keep out Traore and Oliech in quick succession.

Traore begins goal rush
The visitors held their lead going into the dressing rooms, but were broken down six minutes after the restart when their defence failed to deal with Oliech's cross and Traore cashed in his sixth of the season.

With hardly any time to regroup, Sochaux conceded again inside a minute as Kamel Chafni put Oliech through and the Kenyan touched beyond the advancing Richert.

Sochaux must have been having flashbacks to their midweek mauling and it became all the more similar when two became three after 63 minutes. Oliech found himself clear again and, although Richert kept out his first effort, the goal was unguarded on the rebound and Oliech made no mistake.

Those present at Stade de l'Abbe-Deschamps could barely believe what they were seeing, and Oliech added to the fervour even more when he wrapped up his treble. Traore found him in the area with a defence-splitting pass and he did the rest, crashing in with his left foot.

Richert, who had done little wrong all game, then produced a wonder save to keep out Yaya Sanogo, before Sochaux steadied the ship and reached full time without conceding again.