Bordeaux into quarters

Posted Wednesday, March 17, 2010 by PA

Bordeaux survived an unlikely Olympiacos fightback to book their place in the Champions League quarter-finals at the Stade Chaban Delmas.

Yoann Gourcuff's superb free-kick gave Bordeaux an early lead and the France midfielder saw another set-piece come back off the frame of the goal as visiting goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis struggled to cope with his delivery.

There looked no way back for Olympiacos when Matt Derbyshire was sent off in the 60th minute for two yellow cards in the space of seven minutes.

But substitute Kostas Mitroglou made an instant impression, crashing home a 64th minute equaliser, and they received a second boost when the hosts' captain Alou Diara also saw red.

Bordeaux, though, sealed their progression in the 88th minute, Nikopolidis again caught as Marouane Chamakh headed in at the far post.

The Ligue 1 side started the match firmly in control of the tie following their 1-0 win in Greece two weeks ago.

And Gourcuff tightened their grip with a fine opener in the fifth minute.

Nikopolidis may have been expecting a cross from a position out beyond the left edge of the area, but instead Gourcuff whipped a fierce right-footed effort over his head and into the far top corner.

The visitors threatened as former Blackburn striker Derbyshire got free down the left but failed to pick out Lomana LuaLua with his low ball in and from the counter-attack Chamakh was unable to find Gourcuff breaking through the middle.

Gourcuff was becoming a major influence and he was denied in the 39th minute by a brave block from Nikopolidis.

At the other end Jaouad Zairi poked a volley wide of the post before Gourcuff almost caught out the Olympiacos keeper with another free-kick in the 44th minute.

This time it was delivered from a much deeper position out on the left, Nikopolidis misjudging the flight of the ball horribly as it again went over his head before hitting the crossbar, post and then bouncing off his chest.

The Greeks had a goal ruled out for a marginal offside a minute later when Derbyshire turned in a left-wing cross.

Derbyshire's evening got even worse on the hour mark when he received a second booking for a late challenge on Jaroslav Plasil.

But out of nowhere Olympiacos seized a lifeline.

Mitroglou had only been on the pitch for two minutes when he let Raul Bravo's throw-in from the left run across his body, turned and as the ball was bouncing lashed a venomous right-footed effort past Cedric Carrasso from outside the area.

The visitors received another boost in the 69th minute when Bordeaux were also reduced to 10 men, captain Alou Diarra harshly picking up a second yellow for a tackle on Ieroklis Stoltidis in which he appeared to win the ball.

They almost found a second when Bravo turned the ball back across goal and Michael Ciani narrowly avoided turning it into his own net.

Chamakh then had a great chance to settle Bordeaux nerves when he burst through on goal but a heavy touch allowed Nikopolidis to rush out and claim the ball at the striker's feet.

But the he made amends two minutes from time when the keeper failed to cut out Benoit Tremoulinas' left-wing cross and Chamakh rose well to power home a header at the far post.