S. Korean Ui-jo is the ‘bee’s knees’ for Bordeaux

BORDEAUX: Bordeaux captain Benoit Costil said South Korea’s Hwang Ui-jo is the “bee’s knees” after the forward scored his second goal in four Ligue 1 appearances in the 2-0 victory over Nantes.

Ui-jo, 27, who joined the French club from Gamba Osaka in July, claimed his third goal of the league campaign as Bordeaux moved up to sixth in the table.

“His settling in time has been minimal. He’s very efficient. What he’s been doing has been the bee’s knees,” Costil said on Sunday.

“I prefer to have Ui-jo with us rather than against us,” he added.

Coach Paulo Sousa also praised the 29-time international who set up Francois Kamano for the opening goal of the game with a precise pass with the outside of his foot.

“Ui-jo is starting to understand his positioning and has better communication with his teammates,” the Portuguese boss said.

“With every match he’s starting to be decisive, to show his physical ability.

“He’s an important type of player for us,” he added.

Elsewhere, Patrick Vieira’s Nice won for the first time in six games denying Reims the chance to move to second in the table with a 2-0 victory.

Wylan Cyprien and Christophe Herelle scored after Mali international Moussa Doumbia was sent off in the first half for the visitors.

In the final game of the day, St Etienne continued their resurgence under Claude Puel as Denis Bouanga’s second-half effort was enough to beat Monaco 1-0 to claim their third win in four games under the former Leicester boss.

“The new coach has reshuffled the cards, he has gone back to basics,” Gabon international Bouanga told broadcaster Canal+.

“We’re a different team, no longer the team from the start of the season, every player is different,” he added.