Ligue 1 Round-Up: Bordeaux Back On Top, Monaco Into Second, Sochaux Edge Lorient

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Girondins de Bordeaux 3-0 Le Mans
Boulogne-Sur-Mer 1-3 Monaco
Grenoble 1-2 Nancy
Nice 4-1 Lyon (full report)
Saint-Etienne 0-2 Valenciennes
Sochaux 1-0 Lorient
Stade Rennais L-L Montpellier

Girondins de Bordeaux 3-0 Le Mans

Laurent Blanc’s Bordeaux had few problems easing off the challenge of Le Mans, moving back to the top of Ligue 1 in the process.

Coming off the midweek victory against Bayern Munich, Bordeaux wanted a strong start to maintain their momentum and got just that as Jaroslav Plasil’s free kick was turned in by Yoan Gouffran, who beat Didier Ovono at his near post.

Such an emphatic start was not followed up in much of les Girondins’ play in the remainder of the first half, though they would still have chances, most notably from Wendel, whose free kick zipped just a little to the right, and Marouane Chamakh, who was denied by a last-ditch challenge from Gregory Cerdan.

Paulo Duarte’s side were limited going forward. Frederic Thomas hit a free kick over the bar in response to the goal but their best chance of the first half would come five minute before the break, Roland Lamah centring for Thorstein Helstad, who couldn’t steer his header on target.

Le Mans’ strong form continued after the pause, with Lamah again heavily involved as Anthony Le Tallec sent a seemingly net-bound shot at goal. However, Carrasso pulled off a terrific save to deny the ex-Liverpool man.

Much has been made of Bordeaux’s ability from deadball positions, and it would be a corner kick that allowed them to break clear in this game, Chamakh leaving Ovono no chance as he converted a delicious Gourcuff centre.

The match was rounded off with a third goal, David Bellion the benefactor of Benoit Tremoulinas’ enterprise down the flank, left with an easy finish from inside the box.

Boulogne-Sur-Mer 1-3 Monaco

Monaco once again have Nene to thank for three points, as they Brazilian proved the match-winner against stuffy ten-man Boulogne.

The home side handed a debut to goalkeeper Ibrahim Kone, who nearly found himself beaten after being caught well out his goal from Park Chu-Young as early as the fourth minute. The South Korean’s effort was good, but the youngster had already scrambled back.

Although USBCO were more offensive than they have been in recent times, the best they could muster was an effort from Jeremy Blayac. And they would be punished ten minutes before the break, Park completing a flowing move by turning home an Alejandro Alonso pass.

Only a couple of minutes later the hosts were hit by a further blow as Kevin Das Neves’ two-footed lunge on Alonso was rewarded with a red card.

Monaco dominated the early stages of the second period but were unable to create a real opening. Boulogne were no tangible threat until they won a free kick within shooting range. Laurent Agouazi tried his luck but came up just short as Stephane Ruffier made a fine save. However, from the corner kick, Jeremy Blayac hit the jackpot, thumping in from close range.

The pressure on the home goal would be intense in the closing stages, with shots raining down on Kone, who was never really forced to excel himself to deny les Monegasques.

Only moments after Ruffier had been quickly out his goal to save Monaco, home resistance was broken, inevitably by Nene, whose stunning long-range free kick picked out the top corner, winning the game late for les Monegasques.

As if to prove his excellence in the field of striking a deadball, Nene would add a third for the visiting side in stoppage time, smashing a deadball into the net via the crossbar.

Grenoble 1-2 Nancy

Though Grenoble are improving slowly, their prospects look bleak as they threw away an advantageous position to lose late against Nancy – their tenth defeat from ten games this season.

GF38 have been terrible in the first half hour of games, but they got through the opening 30 minutes in this encounter unscathed. Indeed, they were arguably the better side. Although the game was open, chances were few. Danijel Ljuboja had a go from 25-yards out but failed to seriously test visiting goalkeeper Damien Gregorini.

Ten minutes from half-time an error from Gregorini led to confusion in the Nancy box. Bostjan Cesar was left with a simple chance but was caught by surprise and couldn’t turn the ball home.

After being the better side throughout the first half, there was some concern for the hosts when Paul Afo’o Efoulou went close for ASNL early after the break. But Grenoble would grab the lead when Daisuke Matsui’s shot landed at the feet of Ljuboja, who shot home. Moments later it could have been two, but Gregorini made a fine save from the same player.

Reynald Lemaitre’s prodigious leap nearly produced an equaliser, but it was an own goal that brought the leveller, David Jemmali misjudging a long ball forward and lobbing his own goalkeeper with a header.

True to form, GF38 would throw even a point away. Cesar was guilty of a tug on Issiar Dia inside the box, allowing Youssouf Hadji to become the late game-winner.

Nice 4-1 Lyon

Click here for a full report...

Saint-Etienne 0-2 Valenciennes

The mixed form of Saint-Etienne continued on Saturday evening, when Valenciennes strolled away with three points.

Injury-riddled Sainte started the match bossing much of the ball, but they were pretty impotent in attack. One quick break by Ilan yielded a chance for Gonzalo Bergessio, though his first-time shot was well repelled by Guy Ndy Assembe. And les Verts reshuffled defence would break at the first time of asking, when Renaud Cohade’s neat through ball picked out Johan Audel, who finished calmly.

There was little real response from the home side, who could only muster a tentative Ilan shot wide in the first half. In contrast, Jeremie Janot was forced to produce a fine block to deny former Vert Siaka Tiene. Gregory Pujol then sent a shot narrowly off target before the interval as VA finished the half the stronger.

The game flipped entirely after the break as les Verts suddenly became a very meaningful attacking threat. Gelson Fernandes had a superb shot saved by Ndy Assmebe before Yohan Benalouane had an effort blocked by Milan Bisevac. Dimitri Payet shot wide, Gelson missed a one-on-one chance and Ndy Assembe blocked a Bergessio effort from close range as the home side’s dominance just couldn’t tell.

And Valenciennes made the game safe in stoppage time, David Ducourtioux beating Gelson before advancing into the box and finishing coolly beyond Janot to give the northerners another impressive away success.

Sochaux 1-0 Lorient

Francis Gillot’s Sochaux side again recorded a valuable three points, building on their success over Lyon last weekend with a good win against a previously in-form Lorient.

The home side seemed spurred on by victory seven days ago and they took the lead as early as the seventh minute when visiting goalkeeper Fabien Audard made a mess of collecting a free kick and allowed Damien Perquis a rare goal.

Les Merlus imposed themselves on the middle period of the first half but failed to really cause any anxious moments in a solid home defence. That allowed les Lionceaux to mount some serious raids forward in the closing minutes of the half. Nicolas Maurice-Belay had a strong drive turned away by Audard, who would be thankful that Marvin Martin’s shot moments later finished the wrong side of the post.

In the very first minute of the second half Kevin Gameiro had a shot blocked by Teddy Richert in the home goal. Though play would become balanced, Sochaux were far more threatening than their guests.

Vaclav Sverkos should have buried a simple chance but shot straight at Audard when anywhere else on target would have done. Martin then shot over after great work by Maurice-Belay and the post would come to Lorient’s rescue when the same player again threatened.

The entertaining second period would continue. Maurice-Belay would push an angled shot just wide of the Lorient goal, while substitute Olivier Monterrubio would go close for the guests, who would be frustrated by Richert’s save.

Robin Bairner, Goal.com