Bordeaux 1-3 Roma

A goal from Yoann Gourcuff was cancelled out with a goal from Mirko Vucinic and a brace from Julio Baptista after an early sending off turned the match on its head and allowed the away team to claim all three points, leaving Bordeaux languishing at the bottom of group A. Tonight saw a meeting between the two sides that made losing starts to this UEFA Champions League campaign. Bordeaux hosted Roma at the Stade Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux, where both teams were hoping to make their mark on group A. The final of this year’s competition is to be held in Roma’s Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday 27 May 2009, giving the Giallorossi extra motivation to get out of this group and progress all the way to the final. Bordeaux were on the wrong end of a 4-0 thrashing last week, and went into this game keen to make their fans forget their last outing. Roma captain Francesco Totti was still unavailable for the Giallorossi, with his knee injury keeping him out for longer than was expected. The captain was in the stands, hoping to spur his troops on without being on the pitch. First Half Bordeaux got the game under way with the kick-off, but the pace of the match was very slow in the early moments, with both teams studying each other, worried about making any mistakes. In the 8th minute a cross to Diarra met the player’s head but he could not turn it towards goal. A minute later Roma’s Brazilian goalkeeper Doni was called into action, saving a shot from Jusse and keeping Bordeaux at bay. In the 11th minute Roma showed themselves to be a dangerous opponent with an Aquilani effort from a free kick that required intervention from the goalkeeper. A few minutes later it was Bordeaux’s turn to threaten the Giallorossi, with the player on loan from Milan, Gourcuff, turning dangerously on the edge of the area before cracking a shot that sped wide of the post. The game’s opening goal came from the talented youngster in the 18th minute, with Gourcuff scoring a stunning powerful right-footed shot from outside the box, which beat Doni to his bottom left, while the crowd in the Stade Chaban-Delmas erupted with delight. Roma were desperate to respond as soon as possible, and only a few minutes later John Arne Riise displayed the potential of his left foot, with a shot from outside the box, which missed to the right from a free kick. After half an hour it was visible that Roma had changed formation from a 4-1-4-1 to a 4-2-3-1, with Aquilani dropping in line with De Rossi just in front of the defence. Three minutes later Bordeaux keeper Valverde cut out a useful cross from Brazilian Ciccinho. The half was dotted with a number of fouls, with the majority committed by the French side. On 36 minutes Bordeaux was made to pay for one too many, with Carlos Henrique receiving a straight red for a dangerous challenge, leaving the home team in ten men. The tempo of the game changed at this point and Bordeaux made a few substitutions to counter the advantage that had been given to the Giallorossi. The final few minutes were divided between fouls and Roma attacks, with would end in Vucinic being called offside on three different occasions in the space of five minutes. A last minute attempt from Wendel saw his header miss to the left of the goal, with the referee blowing for half time soon after. The teams went into the break with the score at 1-0 for Bordeaux. Second Half The second half began with a flurry of fouls hampering the game from flowing freely. Roma was clearly not in control of the game, despite the extra man advantage. Roma put Baptista on for Menez in an attempt to use fresh legs to outrun Bordeaux’s tiring defence. Roma seemed anxious on the ball, while the French side dribbled confidently in front of their home fans. In the 54th minute Gourcuff made a menace of himself once again, striking a free kick at goal, which was blocked away from danger. Roma’s frustration started to show at this point, with Panucci, Taddei, Baptista and De Rossi all picking up yellow cards in quick succession. Roma pressure would pay off however, with Vucinic rising to header from a corner into goal in the 64th minute. The equalizer served to galvanise the Giallorossi, who pushed forward in search of a winner. Baptista’s introduction into the match proved to be a masterstroke from Luciano Spalletti as the player known as the ‘beast’ sent Roma ahead in the 71st minute. Baptista’s right-footed shot from outside the box found the top right corner of the net from a free kick. Roma continued to push and in the 76th minute a cross from Vucinic found Okaka Chuka, whose right-footed shot from the centre of the box misses slightly to the left of the goal. Four minutes later the same player was caught offside after a through ball attempt from Riise. Roma were in full control of the match at this point, with the extra man proving to be Bordeaux’s downfall. Seven minutes from time Baptista was once again on hand to make it 3-1 to the Giallorossi. The Brazilian hit a left footed shot from very close range into the bottom left corner after a pass from Taddei. That proved to be the nail in the coffin for the French side, who could do nothing but wait until time ran out. A final attempt from Gourcuff two minutes from the end of the game was all that Bordeaux had left to offer. The French fans were dejected and many began leaving the stadium early. After three minutes of injury time the referee ended the game with the score at 3-1 for the Giallorossi, having come back from a goal down to earn all three points on the night. Roma now have three points in the group, while Bordeaux remain at the bottom of the log, still searching for their first point of the Champions League season. BORDEAUX 1-3 ROMA 1-0 Gourcuff 18' 1-1 Vucinic 64' 1-2 Baptista 71' 1-3 Baptista 83'