Bordeaux rescue act negates Fekir magic
PARIS: Bordeaux forward Malcom struck a superb stoppagetime equaliser in a 3-3 draw at 10-man Lyon on Saturday to help cancel out a sublime halfway-line lob from Nabil Fekir.
France international Fekir drilled the ball over Benoit Costil with his weaker right foot after just 10 minutes having spotted the Bordeaux goalkeeper well off his line.
Fekir has assumed extra responsibility at Lyon this season, taking over as captain following the departures of Alexandre Lacazette, Corentin Tolisso and Maxime Gonalons.
“For the goal I didn’t think twice. I saw the keeper up the pitch and it was instinctive,” said Fekir, after netting for the third time in as many matches this term.
Netherlands full-back Kenny Tete marked his full debut by netting Lyon’s second on 23 minutes when he volleyed in a free-kick from fellow Dutchman Memphis Depay.
But the hosts saw Sergi Darder dismissed for a second yellow card on 36 minutes after the Spaniard caught former Lyon midfielder Jeremy Toulalan with a raised boot.
Malcom reduced the deficit shortly before half-time, rifling home from 25 yards via a wicked deflection off Mariano Diaz after the Brazilian’s initial free-kick was blocked.
Lyon withstood sustained pressure as Bordeaux twice threatened an equaliser through Danish midfielder Lukas Lerager.
Bertrand Traore then curled in a superb free-kick on 74 minutes for his first goal since arriving from Chelsea to seemingly leave Lyon heading for a third successive win.
But Lerager clawed a goal back two minutes from time with a composed finish, and Malcom hammered in his second of the afternoon with another thumping strike from distance to earn a point for Bordeaux in a dramatic finale.
“There were great goals for the fans but for us it’s a big negative point because we led 3-1 with 10 minutes to play... It’s hugely frustrating,” said Lyon keeper Anthony Lopes.
Elsewhere, Dutch international Wesley Sneijder made his Ligue 1 debut as Nice beat Guingamp 2-0 to collect their first points of the season. - AFP