Gnahore scores late to earn Amiens a draw at Bordeaux
PA R I S: Midfielder Eddy Gnahore scored late on as struggling Amiens secured a 1-1 draw at Bordeaux in the French Ligue 1.
Seven of the 17 league goals Amiens has scored this season have been in the last 20 minutes.
Gnahore’s equaliser in the 87th minute came after the Bordeaux defence was caught out as a cross sailed over the penalty area.
Gnahore kept his eye on the ball and broke into the box to score with a confident finish. It was his fourth goal of the season, making him the club’s top scorer heading into the winter break.
The 25-year-old Frenchman is a former Manchester City youth player, who was also on Napoli’s books but never played for the club in Serie A.
He is on loan to Amiens after a strong season with Palermo in Italy’s second-tier Serie B and is making a name for himself with consistent performances in a side fighting relegation.
Amiens will need more goals from him after the break considering they are down in 17th place – only one point and one place clear of the promotion-relegation playoff spot.
Bordeaux took the lead after 23 minutes through Nigerian striker Samuel Kalu.
Veteran forward Jimmy Briand celebrated his 400th league appearance – all in the top flight – but the Amiens defence kept him in check and he failed to net his 90th career goal.
Bordeaux are in 12th place. Defending champion Paris St Germain won 1-0 at home to Nantes on Saturday and lead by 13 points from second-placed Lille with two games in hand. PSG’s only defeat this season was a 3-2 loss at Liverpool in the group stage of the Champions League.
PSG resume their march toward another league title at Amiens on Jan 12.