Bordeaux seal vital win over Paris FC [2-1]

Before the game got underway the Ultramarines paid an emotional tribute to Benjamin a life-long Bordeaux supporter who left us recently. The whole stadium joined in a minute of applause in his memory.

The game got off to a tentative start, with the two sides feeling each other out and taking time to find their rhythm. The Parisian defence left very little space for the Girondins' forwards to work with. The break came in the 24th, when a superb one-two with Aliou Badji allowed Vital Nsimba to swing in a cross to the back post where Malcom Bokele was waiting to fire past Demarconnay (24’, 1-0). A second goal of the season for the right-back, and an early lead for Bordeaux. Eight minutes later, Vital Nsimba dummied his way past Kore only to see himself hauled down and awarded a penalty. Yoann Barbet did the honours, and the Girondins were now two goals to the good (32’, 2-0). Just before half-time Danylo Ignatenko came tantalisingly close to making it three: the Ukrainian tried his luck from the edge of the box, but Macon saved the visitors with a last-ditch clearance off the line (39’).

Thierry Laurey's side returned from the break with a renewed sense of purpose. Ex-Girondin Paul Lasne had a decent shot on goal, but fired the ball over Gaëtan Poussin's bar (57’). Just a few seconds later the ball fell for Boutaib, unmarked on the penalty spot, but he managed to head wide (58’). Back up the other end, Ignatenko managed to slip past his marker but saw his shot blocked. The ball fell to Aliou Badji, but the Senegal international scuffed his shot (59'). The visitors' efforts were finally rewarded when Julien Lopez's close-angled shot narrowed the gap (73’).

Gaëtan Poussin was kept busy in the final period of this game, stopping shots from both Boutaib (79’) and Lopez (82’).  The home faithful were holding their breath when Lasne popped up with a late shot from the edge of the box, but his drive scraped just a few centimetres over the bar (90’). The whistle finally went and Bordeaux were at last able to celebrate 3 important points in front of a home crowd. The boys will be back in action against Amiens, Monday 27 February at 20:45 (Stade de la Licorne).