Auxerre 2 - Betis 0

Auxerre: Cool; Radet, Mexes, Boumsong, Jaures; Faye, Tainio, Lachuer, Fadiga; Kapo, Cissé. 4-4-2.
Betis: Prats; Varela, Rivas, Filipescu, Luis Fernández; Ito (Fernando 58'), Marcos Assunçao; Joaquín, Capi (Casas 70'), Denilson; Alfonso (Arzu 85'). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 19. Tainio. Shot from edge of area after Filipescu failed to clear Lachuer cross.
2-0. 47. Lachuer. Headed home cross from Cissé.

Betis were knocked out of the UEFA cup after losing 2-1 on aggregate to Auxerre. Both managers lined up with their first choice sides, with Filipescu coming in to the Andalucian back four for Juanito, and Cissé starting for Guy Roux's team after appearing as substitute in the first leg which Betis won with an Alfonso penalty. It was the French side though who took the early initiative, with Rivas getting back to stop Kapo after Prats had dropped a shot from Fadiga, and with twenty minutes gone Tainio beat the keeper from the edge of the area after Filipescu tried to head away Lachuer's cross.

That made it all square on aggregate, and Auxerre went in front two minutes after the restart when Lachuer headed home a cross from Cissé after a long run down the wing by the young French international. An away goal would still have given the visitors victory, but a defence marshalled by Mexes restricted their opponents to long shots at goal, and home side keeper Cool was there when they did get through, in particular making a vital point blank save from Denilson near the end. The Betis players left the pitch stunned.With the final taking place in their home town of Sevilla tthis should have been their year, but once again they have failed to get past the third round of the competition.