Match – An incredible victory [4-5]

For their 23rd game of the L1 season, Bordeaux headed to the icy Stadium Nord to face Rudi Garcia's Lille. Francis Gillot opted for a 5-3-2 formation again: Carrasso – Mariano, Henrique, Planus, Ciani, Trémoulinas – Plasil (cap), Nguemo, Obraniak – Maurice-Belay, Gouffran. Garcia's teamsheet read: Landreau – Debuchy, Rozehnal, Chedjou, Berria – Balmont, Mavuba (cap), Pedretti – Payet, Roux, Hazard. Ludovic Obraniak, now firmly established in the Girondins' starting line-up, was face-to-face with his old team-mates again only a month after leaving Lille for Bordeaux.

A frantic start

Lille won the toss and chose to take the kick-off, but within minutes Obraniak was bearing down on goal. Landreau managed to block Obraniak's shot but the rebound fell to Maurice-Belay, who seized the opportunity with a blasted volley from the edge of the box. Debuchy tried desperately to intervene, but was helpless to stop the ball crossing the line. Bordeaux were ahead after just three minutes (0-1, 3’). Five minutes later Lille won a corner, and Payet's delivery found Rozehnal in the middle. Carrasso pulled off a superb diving save to block Rozehnal's header, but could not hold onto the ball. With Carrasso on the floor, Rozenhal volleyed home to level the score (1-1, 8’). Less than ten minutes later Maurice-Belay intercepted a stray pass from Debuchy, and looked up to see Gouffran in space. Gouffran weaved and stalled magnificently, playing a perfectly-timed pass for the arriving Obraniak, whose low drive left Landreau with no chance (1-2, 17’).

Bordeaux in control

Lille were still enjoying some good spells of possession, and when Balmont delivered a pin-point cross for Roux Carrasso was just able to block the goal-bound header (25'). The Bordeaux defence looked solid and well-organised, with Carlos Henrique on particularly strong form. The Girondins continued to pile on the pressure with their counter-attacks, and when Maurice-Belay won a free-kick on the edge of the Lille box Obraniak stepped up. HIs shot was blocked by the wall (37'), but less than a minute later Mariano found Maurice-Belay with a long ball. Maurice-Belay squared for Gouffran, but the ball passed tantalisingly beyond his reach and past the open goal. Lille had not managed to crack the Bordeaux defence, but did win a fair amount of free kicks. The Girondins had been solid and efficient in this first half, and headed back to the changing rooms with a one-goal lead.

Bordeaux widen the gap

Seconds after the second half kicked off Maurice-Belay found himself through on goal. The striker tried to slide the ball past Landreau with the outside of his left foot, but the keeper stood his ground. Minutes later Maurice-Belay was at it again, slipping past Pedretti and Rozehnal to set up another showdown with Landreau. This time MB left his opponent no chance (1-3, 50’), smashing home his second goal of the afternoon.

Lille soon made the first substitution of the match, with Joe Cole on for Payet (52’). Latching onto a cross from Trémoulinas, Yoan Gouffran missed the target by a matter of millimetres (54’). Two minutes later Maurice-Belay played a through ball for Gouffran, who teed up Mariano. Arriving at full speed, the Brazilian saw his shot fly over the bar. It was the 58th minute before Lille saw their first real goalscoring opportunity of the second half, with no success. Two minutes later Plasil picked up the ball, beat Mavuba and pulled back a pass which Gouffran buried in the back of the net. Another goal, and a great way for Gouffran to celebrate his 150th match in Ligue 1. The Girondins were now three goals clear (1-4, 60’).

Hazard and Debuchy start the comeback

With 65 minutes on the clock Lille won a free kick 30 metres from goal. Eden Hazard stepped up, producing a blistering shot which left Carrasso for dead (2-4, 65’). Gillot soon made his first change of the afternoon, with Grégory Sertic coming on for Plasil (70’). Lille were creating more chances now, but were still struggling to crack Bordeaux's solid back line. In the 75th minute they found the opening they had been looking for, with Debuchy left unmarked at the back post. He controlled and shot with great poise, reducing the gap to just one goal (3-4, 75’). Gillot decided it was time for another change, with Jussiê replacing Gouffran.

Unbearable tension

The Girondins were suddenly struggling to hold onto possession, with 10 minutes left to play. Double goalscorer Maurice-Belay was replaced by Florian Marange (86’), as Francis Gillot did everything he could to keep his team ahead. Two minutes later Bruno wasted a golden opportunity, with Carrasso blocking his close-range shot. Bordeaux were looking rattled! In the last minute of the 90 Pedretti set up Roux on the edge of the penalty area. Roux beat two defenders to slot home Lille's 4th goal, levelling the scores (90’, 4-4).

Just when this match finally looked to be over, Sertic headed on Mariano's cross into the path of Obraniak. Without a second's hesitation Obraniak struck the ball on the volley, beating Landreau and snatching victory for the Girondins in the dying seconds of this incredible match (90+3’, 4-5).

The Girondins had been strong and well-organised, in a game which turned out to be absolutely crazy.