Montpellier have been crowned Ligue 1 champions for the first time in their history after a 2-1 victory over Auxerre at the Stade de l'Abbe-Deschamps.

It looked as if MHSC would fall at the final hurdle when Olivier Kapo headed the home side ahead but John Utaka restored parity before the second half was over. After that early scare and despite some time-consuming stoppages in play, Utaka managed to cap a disjointed evening with his second, and the championship goal.

Rene Girard's side knew they just needed to avoid defeat to secure the title and began in a competent manner, playing fluid attacking football from the outset.

In the fifth minute Garry Bocaly slipped a pass through to Olivier Giroud who beat the offside trap. He rounded the keeper but was forced to cross from an acute angle and Willy Boly headed away.

Moments later Remy Cabella fired narrowly wide but the visitors should really have gone ahead in the 16th minute. The 22-year-old threaded a pass through to Souleymane Camara but his weak effort was smothered by Olivier Sorin in a one-on-one situation.


Their indecisiveness in front of goal was punished when Kapo nodded the hosts into the lead from a Roy Contout corner with 21 minutes on the clock.

The visitors showed tremendous character as they refused to lose their composure and continued to press Auxerre high up the pitch. It paid dividends just after the half-hour mark when Camara got in behind on the right and played the ball into the six-yard box for Utaka to tap in.

Within minutes of the second half commencing the referee ordered both sets of players off the pitch after a section of l'AJA fans protested against the club's board by throwing tennis balls and toilet paper on to the field of play.

After a lengthy delay the players reemerged from the changing rooms and MHSC's momentum seem to have suffered as a result. Giroud failed to make decent contact with an Utaka cross inside the area before Anthony Le Tallec saw a great effort from 20 yards saved by Geoffrey Jourden.

The visitors were by no means safe and hearts were in mouths when Delvin Ndinga rifled Le Tallec's knock down at goal, but Jourden was well positioned to parry the ball away from danger.

There was another prolonged suspension in the 72nd minute as a flare was thrown onto the pitch but play eventually continued with riot police moving into the stands to eject the offending supporters.

The break served to fire up the visitors and after Sorin saved well from Giroud he soon made a hash of clearing corner which lead to Montpellier's winner. Utaka chested the ball down before turning Stephane Grichting and drilling an effort into the bottom corner.

Victory meant that Paris Saint-Germain's 2-1 win over Lorient was irrelevant and Carlo Ancelotti's side therefore finished the season in second position, three points adrift of Montpellier, who could celebrate a maiden title win.


http://www.goal.com/en-india/match/61291/aj-auxerre-vs-montpellier-hsc/report

congrats to Montepellier and to Mr. J. Utaka

Utaka has always been a very silent but dangerous winger! Am proud of him and my bro mikel

Odenigbo Aroli: Utaka has always been a very silent but dangerous winger! Am proud of him and my bro mikel

Point of correction. John Utaka has and never was a winger. Don't mind the dumb Super Eagles coaches who always played him out of position. Check him out when he played for Rennes.

He is a natural born striker. Striker to the core and he has always flourished as a striker. This season at Montpellier has proved it.

stagger:

Point of correction. John Utaka has and never was a winger. Don't mind the dumb Super Eagles coaches who always played him out of position. Check him out when he played for Rennes.

He is a natural born striker. Striker to the core and he has always flourished as a striker. This season at Montpellier has proved it.

You are correct but are you aware that he was used as a winger at montpellier for the most part?

stagger:

Point of correction. John Utaka has and never was a winger. Don't mind the dumb Super Eagles coaches who always played him out of position. Check him out when he played for Rennes.

He is a natural born striker. Striker to the core and he has always flourished as a striker. This season at Montpellier has proved it.

He was used as a winger when playing for Lens. Don't say what you don't know.

Glad to know the brother is still doing well. He sorta disappeared from the radar after portsmouth went down.

[color=#550000][/color]

Good one John ;DGood one John

Congratulations to Montpellier and my compatriot, John Chukwudi Utaka.
I will be looking out for them in the next UCL.

Hope he will do well if invited to play for d super eagles?

Congrats to the ATTACKER Also knownn As UTAKA

henryukwa: Hope he will do well if invited to play for d super eagles?

he has been invited. Let him come and prove his worth

bump[img]http://www.50centloseweight.com[/img]

Let him come and prove his worth[img]http://www.50centloseweight.com[/img]

Congrats to John Utaka and montpellier ,well deseverd

John Utaka is the second person In the french league to score a hat trick twice in a row some seasons ago. The only other person and the first to achieve this was the legendary Frenchman Just Fontaine, the person with the record for most goals in a single World Cup (15 goals!!!). Guess how John Utaka was rewarded? In the 3rd match after the first two, he was benched cos the Frenchies didnt want a blackman breaking their beloved Just Fontaine's record.

Congrats John Chukwudi Utaka. This is a great acheivement. I hope to see him in the Champions league next season.

So much love this season,changing of power in all leagues...
La liga-....frm barca to madrid
Premiership-....frm man u,chelsea even arsenal to man city
Serie A-....juve who suffer heavy dwngradin some yrs ago even came to rule
Ligue 1....montepeller who is no wia to be found left PSG behind.
Even chelsea won champions league.....I wish it's like this competitive next season
Bundesliga...dortmund showed them pepper

Mavor: John Utaka is the second person In the french league to score a hat trick twice in a row some seasons ago. The only other person and the first to achieve this was the legendary Frenchman Just Fontaine, the person with the record for most goals in a single World Cup (15 goals!!!). Guess how John Utaka was rewarded? In the 3rd match after the first two, he was benched cos the Frenchies didnt want a blackman breaking their beloved Just Fontaine's record.

If it's true then those guys are friggin retaarrds

melvournis: Let him come and prove his worth[img]http://www.50centloseweight.com[/img]

melvournis: Let him come and prove his worth[img]http://www.50centloseweight.com[/img]

melvournis: Let him come and prove his worth[img]http://www.50centloseweight.com[/img]

hw?

airmark:

He was used as a winger when playing for Lens. Don't say what you don't know.

And what was the result of the Lens experiment? Were they not relegated? Compare Utaka's performances when he was in Racing Club Lens and when he was in Rennes.

I have followed the Championnat since 1993 when George Oppong Weah played for PSG and Nantes boasted of the likes of Patrice Loko, Claude Makelele, Japhet N'Doram and goalkeeper Cassagrande, so don't tell me not to say what I don't know.

Another great Igbo footballer, congrats John Utaka....where are the ausa and ruba

Keneking: Another great Igbo footballer, congrats John Utaka....where are the ausa and ruba

Gee
Another ethnic warrior on the prowl
It Hausa and Yoruba,you dum dum!
Must you dudes always play the tribal card?
Even though Utaka is from East Nigeria
I don't recall him playing for Biafra republic
Why don't you go to the politics section& divide away from Nigeria first?

Keneking: Another great Igbo footballer, congrats John Utaka....where are the ausa and ruba

You are very funny... Let me quickly add this...

2010/2011 Season.. Obafemi Martins.. Birmingham.... Relegated..
2011/2012 Season.. Yakubu Aiyegbeni.. Blackburn..... Relegated..

Too funny...LOL..

Keneking: Another great Igbo footballer, congrats John Utaka....where are the ausa and ruba

Biko,don't bring Tribalism into football or any sports. I beg u in God's name.
Utaka usually performs well if/or when played as a Striker or supporting striker. Remember he was highest goal scorer in the Egyptian league with Ismaily Fc. Just hope keshi won't use him in the wings

Congrats 2 ''Cameroun Jinx Breaker''. Always beta as a striker.

I've always loved him & still do. Happy for him. Congrats John!!!!!

Great move from Portsmouth back to France...paying off in a grand way. Catch move views at: http:///FYDraZH8

John Utaka is the second person In the french league to score a hat trick twice in a row some seasons ago. The only other person and the first to achieve this was the legendary Frenchman Just Fontaine, the person with the record for most goals in a single World Cup (15 goals!!!). Guess how John Utaka was rewarded? In the 3rd match after the first two, he was benched cos the Frenchies didnt want a blackman breaking their beloved Just Fontaine's record.

If what you're saying is true, then what I saw was not a coincidence. The fans and officials celebrated most of the other french players yeterday than the real Hero of the Match-John Chukwudi Utaka....what a shame:-

Keneking: Another great Igbo footballer, congrats John Utaka....where are the ausa and ruba

do u need that? Dnt u see the like of Mickel(champions league), and yobo