Ending the season on a high [1-2]

The Girondins rounded off a difficult season with their heads held high, winning their last game of the campaign away at Reims (1-2) to finish well above the relegation zone.

The game got off to the worse possible start, when Reims took the lead from their very first attack. Foket floated in a well-placed cross from the right flank, landing it on the head of El Bilal Touré who beat Costil from close range (1-0, 15’). A tough blow for Bordeaux, who had had the better chances thus far. Yacine Adli (11’) and Hwang Ui-Jo (26’) had decent attempts on goal early on, but the best chance so far fll to Nicolas De Préville. Pouncing on a major defensive error, he found himself in a one-on-one with Rajkovic, but was unable to beat the keeper with his left-footed shot (28’).

Things kicked up a gear a few minutes later, when Reims created a huge chance on goal for Touré (38’). He completely missed the ball, and the opportunity to put the hosts two goals up. Minutes later, it was Yacine Adli who fired Bordeaux level. Adli was pulled down by a defender, winning a free kick which Toma Basic struck. The rebound from his shot fell to Yacine, who blasted a superb volley just inside the post (1-1, 43’). The perfect moment for Adli to score his second goal of the season. The second half was a very different affair, with Bordeaux now hogging the ball and dominating on all fronts. The Girondins soon took a well-deserved lead courtesy of Enock Kwateng. Rémi Oudin won a corner which Toma Basic floated into the box, where the young defender rose above the pack to head the ball into the back of the net (1-2, 58’) for his first Ligue 1 goal.

Bordeaux were not content to sit back and protect their lead, with Amadou Traoré (70’) and Issouf Sissokho (90’+1) both coming close to making it three. There was a brief moment of panic when Boulaye Dia had a goal disallowed for the hosts (84’), but other than that the Girondins enjoyed a superb second half.  Maxime Poundjé and Youssouf Sabaly bossed the midfield, while Yacine Adli seemed to go from strength to strength as the game went on. This last game of the season also saw a few firsts. For the first time this year, Bordeaux went behind but came back to win. For the first time since 1978, Bordeaux won in Reims. And, in an unexpected end to a very closely-fought season, the Girondins finished the campaign in 12th place. A welcome bit of good news for our club. Bordeaux did not just cement their Ligue 1 survival tonight, they did it in style.