Late Cheyrou strike checks 10-man Bordeaux

January 18, 2010

Benoit Cheyrou struck an 81st-minute equaliser to earn Marseille a 1-1 draw at Bordeaux on Sunday that kept his side in the title race, albeit 11 points behind the league leaders with a game in hand.

Defending champions Bordeaux led through a contested Steve Mandanda own goal on the cusp of half-time but lost goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso to injury and then had centre-back Marc Planus sent off.

The numerical advantage allowed Marseille to boss the match for the first time and they snatched a point when Cheyrou chested down a knockdown before volleying past substitute keeper Ulrich Rame, after Bordeaux’s defenders had been sucked towards Brandao at the defence of a free-kick.

The visitors came close to victory in the closing stages, but Rame saved superbly from Lucho Gonzalez’s instinctive toe-poke and Mathieu Valbuena flashed a low, right-footed shot narrowly wide.

Bordeaux now lead the French top flight by seven points from Lille, while Marseille climb above Lyon to fourth.

The opening goal went down as a Mandanda own goal but it owed everything to a superb cross from advancing centre-back Mickael Ciani and the single-mindedness of Marouane Chamakh, whose strong aerial challenge forced the France international goalkeeper to divert the ball into his own net.

The away side protested fiercely about the legitimacy of Chamakh’s leap but referee Laurent Duhamel turned a deaf ear.

It was shortly before the hour-mark that Bordeaux lost Carrasso to an injury apparently sustained taking a free-kick deep inside his own half.

Rame took over between the sticks and quickly found himself exposed when Mamadou Niang earned a free-kick right on the edge of the Bordeaux area, having been felled by Planus, who was promptly dismissed.

Planus’s expulsion was harsh given the presence of a covering defender in the form of Ciani, but Cheyrou could not capitalise with the dead ball.

Laurent Blanc had deployed Chamakh as a lone central focal point and Bordeaux’s attacking midfielders pressed high up the pitch, pinning Marseille deep inside their own half and cutting off Marseille’s own forward trident of Niang, Brandao and Fabrice Ariel.

The tactic gave Bordeaux control of proceedings in the first half but clear-cut chances were scarce.

Ciani had a shot deflected over the crossbar following a neat turn in the Marseille penalty box in the fifth minute, while Wendel and Yoann Gourcuff both drew straightforward saves from Mandanda.

In Saturday’s action, in-form Lille stretched their winning run to eight matches in all competitions and galvanised their grasp on second place by beating Paris Saint-Germain 3-1.

On the first weekend programme of fixtures after the winter break, Lyon got their season back on track with a 2-0 win at Nancy while Montpellier beat Nice 1-0 to hold onto third place in the table, a point shy of Lille.

PARIS (AFP)

Tags: benoit cheyrou, Bordeaux, bordeaux area, brandao, Cedric Carrasso, central focal point, ciani, deaf ear, equaliser, Fabrice Ariel, France, france international, free kick, Germain, Gonzalez, knockdown, laurent blanc, Laurent Duhamel, lucho gonzalez, Lyon, marc planus, marouane chamakh, Marseille, Mathieu Valbuena, Montpellier, Nancy, niang, Nice, PARIS, rame, Steve Mandanda

Buoyant Bordeaux aiming to upset Bayern

November 3, 2009

Bordeaux travel to Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena on Tuesday aiming to stun the home side and take a step towards a place in the Champions League’s knock-out phase.

The Group A leaders went top of the French league on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Monaco and while Germany’s biggest team were held to a 0-0 draw by struggling Stuttgart, Laurent Blanc’s side are brimming with confidence.

“That was a good game, good preparation for the trip to Munich,” said Bordeaux captain Alou Diarra who said Bayern are favourites although his side top the French table and are unbeaten after 39 home league games.

“Just as we were patient against Monaco, so we must do the same against Bayern. We must defend well.

“We go to Munich with the firm intention of getting a result.

“A team like Bayern knows how to deal with a game like this, but we want to create a surprise.”

Defender Marc Planus – who scored the winner in Bordeaux’s 2-1 win over Munich on October 21 – scored the only goal against Monaco, but Blanc says he expects a bigger challenge in Bavaria.

“As preparation for a Champions League game goes, that was good but Tuesday is another competition altogether,” said Blanc, a World Cup winner with France in 1998.

Bayern have been erratic this season and coach Louis van Gaal has struggled to find his strongest combination.

Having hammered Eintracht Frankfurt 4-0 in the German Cup last week, Bayern laboured to a goalless draw at struggling Stuttgart who managed to break a five-game losing streak.

Adding to Bayern’s woes is the fact they could be without both their chief playmakers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben against Bordeaux.

Their absence prompted team manager Uli Hoeness to lament: “I am not normally someone who is concerned about injuries. But Bayern without Franck Ribery or Arjen Robben is not the same team.”

Bayern are third in the group and need to take points off the French side on Tuesday to keep their dreams of reaching the knock-out stages alive after the defeat in France on October 21.

Robben and Ribery – who the German media have labelled ‘Robbery’ due to their ability to unlock defences – are both struggling with knee injuries, but Dutch star Robben may be fit to face Bordeaux, said coach Louis van Gaal.

Bayern are fifth in the German league with Ribery out for at least another month with a persistent patella strain.

Robben has recovered remarkably quickly from his knee operation at the start of last month and van Gaal said he is likely to play him on Tuesday.

“I preferred to rest him against Stuttgart and save him for the match against Bordeaux,” said van Gaal.

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: allianz arena, alou diarra, arjen robben, Bayern, bayern munich, berlin, Bordeaux, defe, France, franck ribery, FRANKFURT, french league, french side, french table, game losing streak, german cup, Germany, good game, knock out, laurent blanc, league game, league games, louis van gaal, marc planus, Monaco, Munich, playmakers, stuttgart, world cup winner

Bordeaux miss penalties but beat nine-man Bayern

October 22, 2009

Bordeaux fought back from a catastrophic start and survived a nerve-wracking second half to beat nine-man Bayern Munich 2-1 to go top of their Champions League Group A on Wednesday.

Bordeaux defender Michael Ciani opened the scoring, for Bayern, with an own goal in the fifth minute before making amends with an equaliser just before the half hour mark.

Marc Planus claimed Bordeaux’s second before the interval, however as Bayern striker Luca Toni missed a great late chance to equalise, the hosts went on to spectacularly miss two second half penalties.

Bayern coach Louis van Gaal never one to hold back when displeased gave vent to his feelings.

“The defeat has really angered me,” said the Dutch taskmaster, who won the trophy with Ajax in 1995.

“After the early goal we made too many poor passes. We were better in the second-half with 10 men than we were in the first-half with 11.”

Bayern came to the Chaban Delmas stadium without injured forwards Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery and in the hope that playmaker Thomas Muller could live up to his reputation as a future Bayern star.

Muller, however, was one of two Bayern players to be cautioned in the first half and the 20-year-old was sent off just after the half hour mark after a shocking tackle on Mathieu Chalme.

After just five minutes Ciani somehow bundled the ball past his ‘keeper Cedric Carrasso following a corner.

However as an ill-at-ease Bayern saw yellow cards going to Muller then Holger Badstuber, Laurent Blanc’s side dug in to lay the foundations for a well-deserved equaliser.

Marouane Chamakh saw his left-foot drive go wide of Hans-Joerg Butt’s post and a Wendel freekick from the right 10 minutes later forced the Bayern keeper into a crazy forearm save after he was duped by the bounce.

The hosts’ pressure paid off when they won a corner just before the half hour, and Ciani made amends in style by side-flicking the ball past Butt with his right heel.

Muller’s red card barely a minute later saw Bordeaux then move up a gear and Wendel rose well to meet a cross from the right only for his poor header to sail wide.

Yoann Gourcuff then took a pass from the other side of midfield, turned and unleashed a superb drive from 25 yards that a beaten Butt did well to tip over the crossbar.

Two minutes later Bordeaux went ahead after a pacy freekick from the right caused mayhem for Bayern’s defence. Planus claimed the goal although Hamit Altintop looked to have played a major role.

Van Gaal made no changes for the start of the second half but was given hope of an equaliser on several occasions as Bordeaux wasted the chance to seal the win.

On 52 minutes Chamakh was cautioned for simulation, and at the other end a deep cross almost caught out Carrosso as the keeper began hin run out to collect the ball.

Miroslav Klose finally broke out of his slumber to challenge the hosts’ defence, but Planus did well to get back and block the shot.

Minutes later Chamakh won a dubious penalty for Bordeaux after a foul by Butt, but Gourcuff’s cheeky chip – telegraphed by the short run-up – was parried by the big keeper’s hand and kept out the net.

After Chamakh just failed to get on the end of a superb Wendel cross from the left, Toni, at the other end, missed a golden chance to equalise after his header at the back post had Carrosso beaten but bounced back off the upright.

In the closing 10 minutes Bordeaux had chances to score through Tremoulinas and Chamakh, and they were soon left regretting those misses.

In the 88th minute Chamakh won a more authentic penalty after being hauled down in the box by Daniel Van Buyten, who was sent off.

Once again, Butt came to the rescue to beat Jussie from the spot.

Blanc, despite ruing the two missed spot-kicks, said: “I thought beforehand we were going to play a big match, and we did. I’m very satisfied with my players, they showed their hunger in their mentality and in their attack.

“We saw a good Bordeaux this evening, the players gave everything and they respected what we said during the week – don’t forget the basics.”

PARIS (AFP)

Tags: Cedric Carrasso, chaban delmas, chamakh, champions league group, ciani, equaliser, foot drive, forearm, franck ribery, freekick, ill at ease, laurent blanc, left foot, luca toni, marc planus, playmaker, taskmaster, thomas müller, yellow cards

Lyon keep Bordeaux´s title hopes brimming over

May 18, 2009

PARIS (AFP) – Bordeaux’s hopes of ending their 10-year wait for the French league title were boosted Sunday when defending champions Lyon beat Marseille 3-1 at their imposing Velodrome stadium.

Karim Benzema proved a two-goal hero for Claude Puel’s visitors, beating Steve Mandanda from the spot with a first half penalty before coolly slotting past the Marseille keeper after a defence-splitting pass on 42 minutes.

Marseille dominated for periods in the first half with Mahamadou Niang hitting the post with a bullet strike in the 16th minute.

Just how costly his miss was became apparent when Benzema scored from the penalty spot in the 29th minute after he was brought down by Brazilian Brandao.

Benzema’s second seemed to take the wind out of Marseille’s sails.

The hosts struggled to get back into the match in a somewhat dull second half that was livened up when Benzema pounced on a defensive error to test Mandanda again, only this time the keeper won their duel.

Marseille reduced the arrears in the 80th minute through Sylvain Wiltord but despite a late rally by the hosts their brief revival came too late.

In the fourth minute of injury time a superb long-range free-kick from Brazilian Juninho stunned the hosts.

Nevertheless with two games remaining it is still all to play for in a league which, this season, has been incredibly hard to predict.

Bordeaux face Monaco next week at home then Caen away on the final match day while Marseille travel to Nancy next week before hosting Rennes on May 30.

Lyon are already out of the title race but are still battling to secure a Champions League spot for next season.

This latest victory hoists them up to third at the expense of Paris St Germain – who were stunned 2-1 by Auxerre on Saturday – on 67 points, four behind Marseille and seven behind Bordeaux.

Bordeaux, coached by former France international Laurent Blanc, took a major stride towards their first league trophy since 1999 with a crucial 3-2 win over plucky Le Mans on Saturday.

It was the south-west coast side’s ninth win on the trot.

On-loan AC Milan midfielder Yoann Gourcuff was inspirational, helping set up Marouane Chamakh’s equaliser in the 38th minute before giving the hosts the lead on the stroke of half-time then setting up Marc Planus for the match winner on 76 minutes.

Le Mans, to their credit, came in search of the points and had taken the lead through Anthony Le Tallec in the 24th minute before he scored his second of the game eight minutes after the restart.

Gourcuff admitted that having to turn around the match had been a strength-sapping affair.

“Having to come back from being led really forces you to dig in physically, it’s very tiring mentally,” said the midfielder.

“Even when they came back to level at 2-2, we kept our nerve. With two matches to go, it’s really coming down to who is mentally strongest.

“We have it in us to turn around situations like that, which is pretty surprising but I hope it helps us win something big.”

Tags: Anthony Le, auxerre, Bordeaux, brandao, claude puel, final match, France, france international, free kick, french league title, Germain, goal hero, injury time, juninho, Karim Benzema, laurent blanc, league trophy, Ligue 1, Lyon, Mans, marc planus, Marseille, match day, Milan, Monaco, Nancy, niang, PARIS, paris st germain, pounced, Rennes, Steve Mandanda, velodrome, wiltord

Gourcuff keeps Bordeaux title dream alive

April 30, 2009

PARIS (AFP) – Bordeaux recovered from conceding a goal inside 20 seconds and having a man sent off to sustain their French title aspirations with a stunning 3-2 victory at French Cup finalists Rennes on Wednesday.

The freshly crowned League Cup champions were reduced to 10 men mid-way through the first half after falling behind straight from the kick-off, but equalised through Yoan Gouffran before on-loan AC Milan playmaker Yoann Gourcuff put them ahead.

Moussa Sow appeared to have denied Laurent Blanc’s side the points when he equalised with two minutes to play, but the inspirational Gourcuff struck again deep into injury time to keep the heat on league leaders Marseille.

The victory cuts Marseille’s advantage to two points with five league games remaining, while Rennes remain seventh and lose their unbeaten home record.

The visitors got off to the worst possible start, with Rennes taking the lead on 19 seconds when Sow’s half-volleyed cross was bundled in at the back post by Romain Danze.

The goal was the fastest scored in Ligue 1 this season, shaving seven seconds off the mark set by Valenciennes’s Jean-Claude Darcheville when he scored against Auxerre on April 4.

Bordeaux had won their five previous league games and went into the match on the back of Saturday’s 4-0 League Cup final victory over second-tier Vannes, but they were dealt a further blow when centre-back Marc Planus was red-carded in the 26th minute for sliding in on Sow.

The away side bossed proceedings thereafter, with Alou Diarra, Marouane Chamakh and Gourcuff all threatening before Gouffran chested down Petter Hansson’s headed clearance and arrowed a fine volley into the net in the 62nd minute.

Eight minutes later Gourcuff found a gap in the wall to fire home a 22-yard free-kick, only for Sow – who scored the goal that guaranteed Rennes a place in the French Cup final when they beat Grenoble 1-0 last week – to equalise after Ulrich Rame had parried a shot from Stephane M’Bia.

Victory looked to have eluded the visitors at the last, until Gourcuff rammed home a shot from the edge of the box in the 93rd minute to snatch a brave and unlikely victory against his former club.

Tags: ac milan, Bordeaux, chamakh, cup champions, diarra, french cup, french title, Grenoble, grenoble 1, hansson, injury time, jean claude darcheville, laurent blanc, league games, league leaders, Ligue 1, marc planus, Marseille, Milan, PARIS, playmaker, Rennes, Romain Danze, seven seconds, title aspirations, Ulrich Rame, Vannes, yoann gourcuff

Bordeaux´s Wendel takes heart from League Cup win

April 27, 2009

PARIS (AFP) – Bordeeaux’s Brazilian striker Wendel says his club’s 4-0 League Cup win over underdogs Vannes at the Stade de France on Saturday augurs well for their assault on the league title.

Wendel, who suffered a knee injury, praised the way Bordeaux, second to Marseille in the French first division, had begun the game at the Stade de France.

“We were very concentrated right from the start, we killed off the game in the first 15 minutes, afterwards we tried to control affairs,” he said.

“This is another title, it’s good for our trophy sideboard, but we have to put this already behind us, there are very important matches coming up, starting with Rennes on Wednesday.

“We’ll celebrate, but only up to tomorrow night.

“If we continue like that – that’s the fifth consecutive match that we haven’t conceded any goals – if we put up a united front, if we show the same dynamism, the same determination, we’ll also be crowned league champions.”

Second-division Vannes had seen off top-flight opposition in the shape of Valenciennes, Auxerre and Nice en route to the final, but were blown away by a three-goal blitz from their opponents in the opening 12 minutes.

They were silenced in the third minute when Wendel chested down Diego Placente’s pass before coolly lobbing goalkeeper Christophe Revel from the corner of the penalty area.

Bordeaux quickly doubled their lead when centre-back Marc Planus took advantage of Revel’s untimely slip to clip home Wendel’s right-wing corner from close range.

The third goal followed in embarrassingly swift fashion, with Revel rooted to the spot as Yoann Gouffran headed home a vicious inswinging free-kick from on-loan AC Milan playmaker Yoann Gourcuff.

Gourcuff capped a fine display with a fourth before half-time to cap Bordeaux’s third triumph in the competition following their victories in 2002 and 2007.

Vannes’ Revel reflected: “We knew that we had to try not to conceded an early goal, we’d set up plans, had video sessions so that it wouldn’t happen.

“And then it was 4-0 at half-time, 3-0 after quarter of an hour. The match was over after that.”

With Laurent Blanc’s Bordeaux in second behind Marseille in Ligue 1, the UEFA Europa League qualifying-round berth usually awarded to the League Cup victors will go to the side that finishes fifth in the French top flight.

Tags: ac milan, auxerre, blown away, Christophe Revel, close range, Diego, diego placente, dynamism, free kick, laurent blanc, league champions, Ligue 1, marc planus, Marseille, Milan, Nice, PARIS, playmaker, Rennes, revel, sideboard, stade de france, top flight, united front, Vannes, video sessions, wendel, yoann gourcuff

Bordeaux thrash Vannes to seal League Cup crown

April 25, 2009

PARIS (AFP) – A clinical first-half showing from title-chasing Bordeaux inspired them to a 4-0 victory over underdogs Vannes in the French League Cup final at the Stade de France here on Saturday.

Yoann Gourcuff capped a fine display with a fourth before half-time to cap Bordeaux’s third triumph in the competition following their victories in 2002 and 2007.

Vannes, only founded in 1998, brought 40,000 fans with them from the north-western Brittany region, but they were silenced in the third minute when Wendel chested down Diego Placente’s pass before coolly lobbing goalkeeper Christophe Revel from the corner of the penalty area.

Bordeaux quickly doubled their lead when centre-back Marc Planus took advantage of Revel’s untimely slip to clip home Wendel’s right-wing corner from close range.

The third goal followed in embarrassingly swift fashion, with Revel rooted to the spot as Yoann Gouffran headed home a vicious inswinging free-kick from on-loan AC Milan playmaker Gourcuff.

Gourcuff’s dead-ball deliveries were causing Vannes acute discomfort, and on 40 minutes he exchanged passes with Gouffran before seeing a placed shot deflected past Revel into the bottom-right corner.

Revel saved well from first Abdou Traore and then David Bellion to deny Bordeaux a fifth mid-way through the second half, as Vannes’s magnificently vocal supporters lauded their team for their increased effort after the interval.

With Laurent Blanc’s Bordeaux currently second behind league leaders Marseille in Ligue 1, the UEFA Europa League qualifying-round berth usually awarded to the League Cup victors will go to the side that finishes fifth in the French top flight.