|
Bordeaux lost ground at the top of table after they were held to a draw by Toulouse on Saturday. Although Ricardo's team are now nine points behind Lyon and two behind second-placed Paris Saint-Germain, they will be satisfied with their night's work after taking a draw away from the Municipal Stadium where they faced a lively and determined home team.
Toulouse began the game in impressive fashion. Daniel Moreira created the first opening in the fourth minute, racing forward from the halfway line before unleashing a powerful shot that was deflected wide.
The former Lens striker then linked up with Bryan Bergougnoux who fired over the top when well placed on the edge of the penalty area.
Playing with the confidence of a team that has found its stride after a difficult start to the season, Toulouse almost went ahead after a delightful move on 13 minutes. Jérémy Mathieu was released on the left side and his first-time crossed picked out |Santos whose acrobatic volley was saved by Ulrich Ramé.
With Denilson a peripheral figure and Marouane Chamakh starved of service, Bordeaux, who started the weekend in third, struggled to get into proceedings. They did create a half-chance just shy of the half hour, Alonso jinking past Mathieu on the right but hitting his shot into the sidenetting.
It was Toulouse, though, who deservedly went ahead four minutes before the interval. Albin Ebondo picked out Moreira’s run with a long, raking pass and the France forward, after heading the ball forwards, crashed a shot across Ramé and inside the far post.
Bordeaux Coach Ricardo knew that he needed to do something at the break and decided to throw on Francia in place of the ineffective Lilian Laslandes.
The visitors were instantly more dangerous and could have had a penalty when Ebondo handled a centre from Denilson, only for the appeals to be waved away. The equaliser duly arrived in the 58th minute and it was the substitute Francia who got it, curling a free kick over the wall and past Ramé.
The goal sparked Toulouse back to life and Santos had two good chances to claim the points for Les Violets.
On 70 minutes, the Tunisian was left unmarked at the far post but could only direct a right-wing cross over the bar with his head, then 10 minutes from the end he was denied by a last-ditch challenge from Kodjo Afanou.
|
