Senegal striker Boulaye Dia scored twice in stoppage time as Stade Rennais recovered from a heavy defeat to beat AJ Auxerre 4-1 in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
Dia came off the bench in the 77th minute and struck twice in just one minute and 46 seconds to help Rennes secure victory on matchday six of the French top flight.
The forward, who had been waiting since April 2021 to score again in Ligue 1, played a decisive role in his side’s response after their 4-0 defeat by Lyon.
Despite his personal achievement, Dia insisted the team’s collective effort was more important than his individual contribution.
“The most important thing is that we are all ready,” he told Ligue 1 after the match.
The Senegal international said Rennes had responded positively following a difficult first half, during which the players were challenged to improve their performance.
“We got a bit of a dressing down at halftime. And then, in the second half, we showed a different side of ourselves ,” he explained.
Rennes’ victory offered an encouraging response to their loss against Lyon, with Dia’s late goals adding further emphasis to the team’s improved display.
The striker’s introduction as a substitute also illustrated the importance of having players ready to make an impact, regardless of whether they begin a match in the starting line-up.
“Tonight, it was me, the substitute, who scored. Next time, it will be someone else,” he said, highlighting the need for every member of the squad to contribute when called upon.
Dia’s two goals arrived in quick succession during added time, turning an already successful outing into a memorable individual performance.
For the Senegalese forward, the brace was particularly significant because it ended a lengthy wait for another Ligue 1 goal. His previous goal in the competition had come in April 2021, making Sunday’s performance a welcome return to scoring form in France.
However, the former Reims player was keen to avoid making the occasion solely about his own achievement.
His comments reflected a wider emphasis on squad unity and readiness, with Rennes needing contributions from players across the team as they seek to put their defeat against Lyon behind them.
Coming from the bench to score twice also gave Dia an opportunity to demonstrate his value as an attacking option, with his late intervention helping Rennes finish the match emphatically.
The result against Auxerre marked an important response to the disappointment of the previous league outing and gave the Senegalese striker reason to celebrate his return to the scoresheet.
