Toulouse 1-2 Bordeaux: Laurent Blanc’s Men Open Up A Sea Of Points Atop Ligue 1

Les Girondins edged ten-man Tefece to strengthen their stranglehold on Le Championnat...

Dec 23, 2009 9:54:43 PM

More On :  Bordeaux, Toulouse FC, Toulouse FC vs Bordeaux
Ligue 1 : Benoit Tremoulinas & Wendel (Bordeaux)

Girondins de Bordeaux chalked up their eighth successive victory in all competitions by defeating Toulouse 2-1 in the Pink City, opening up a huge nine point gap at the half-way stage of the Ligue 1 season.
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Visiting head coach Laurent Blanc would have been aware of the toils of Olympique de Marseille and Olympique Lyonnais earlier in the day, so losing an early goal to Paulo Machado will only have frustrated the former centre-back. But his Bordeaux side are a resilient bunch and promptly equalised through Marouane Chamakh. A winner would come with little over 15 minutes remaining, substitute Wendel the hero after Tefece left-back Cheikh M’Bengue had been dismissed.

The opening moments of the match were spectacular, with both sides getting on the scoresheet. Three minutes was all it took for Machado to crash a fine waist-high shot by Cedric Carrasso and into the Bordeaux net.

Home coach Alain Casanova described Bordeaux as “virtually untouchable” due to their mental prowess prior to this fixture, and les Girondins would give the trainer a firsthand example of their superb attitude. Within five minutes of falling behind the guest were level, Chamakh heading home a sumptuous cross from left-back Benoit Tremoulinas.

Machado soon flashed a shot wide, but it would quickly become evident that this fixture would be no goal-fest, with opportunities at a premium for much of the first period.

Andre-Pierre Gignac would have a quiet first 45, but he hinted at brighter things ahead with some keen harrying before the break that eventually led to a half-chance palmed away by Carrasso.

After Toulouse had penalty appeals waved away right at the beginning of the second period, Bordeaux would have a terrific chance to move into the ascendancy. Yoan Gouffran’s stinging drive was repulsed by Mathieu Valverde in the home goal and Daniel Congre made a last-ditch block on Yoann Gourcuff, who was quickly following up.

Then came Toulouse’s best second half chance. Gignac created enough room for himself to power through towards Carrasso, but he would be denied by his former team-mate, who was out swiftly to thwart the French international.

For quarter of an hour the match simmered away, with both sides hinting at better. The decisive moment came when M’Bengue’s foul on Chamakh at the edge of the box saw Tony Chapron flourish a second yellow card to the promising defender. From the resultant set-play, Wendel’s delivery took a deflection and ended up in the net.

Gignac might have plundered a levelling goal with nine minutes remaining but found a tight angle on the left and Carrasso too difficult a combination to beat, watching his effort pushed away by the custodian.

In stoppage time Bordeaux went close to putting the game out of reach. Wendel centred for Gourcuff, whose effort was pushed onto the post by Valverde.

This did not prove a seminal moment as Bordeaux scrambled clear a late Toulouse corner to claim yet another three points.

Now boasting a huge nine point advantage, it seems virtually inconceivable that les Girondins will implode sufficiently to allow any of the inconsistent chasing pack to overhaul them before May. For Laurent Blanc, 2009 must be considered close to a perfect year and this was a fitting way to conclude it.

Robin Bairner, Goal.com
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