Gourcuff gets Bordeaux off to winning start
Reuters - Sunday 09 August 2009, 22:04
PARIS - France playmaker Yoann Gourcuff scored twice to help champions Girondins Bordeaux beat promoted Lens 4-1 in the first match of their 2009-10 Ligue 1 campaign on Sunday.
Gourcuff collected the ball with virtually no space, escaped from two Lens players and scored from the edge of the area to make it 2-1 it the 54th minute.
Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh added a third Bordeaux goal in stoppage time before Gourcuff completed the scoring with almost the last kick of the game.
Bordeaux started well, Brazilian midfielder Wendel turning in the box and rifling an angled left-foot shot into the net in the 13th minute.
Lens, who fought bravely throughout, responded with a diving header by Tunisia forward Issam Jemaa shortly before the break.
"The last few minutes were cruel and we probably didn't deserve to lose by that much," Lens coach Jean-Guy Wallemme told reporters. "Bordeaux made the most of the opportunities they had. I saw interesting things from us but at the end of the day, it's a heavy defeat."
Bordeaux, who clinched their first league title in 10 years in May, top the standings after the opening weekend, followed by Stade Rennes, who beat promoted Boulogne-sur-Mer on Saturday.
"We played with the same spirit that we showed last season," Chamakh, who has asked his club to let him join Arsenal, told reporters.
Lille made a disappointing start to their campaign with a 2-1 home defeat by Lorient.
"We wasted too many chances", Lille coach Rudi Garcia told reporters. "When you concede two goals at home, it's tough to win a match. This is clearly not the start we wanted."
Lorient midfielder Olivier Monterrubio was instrumental at both ends, setting up his side's goals before allowing Lille to reduce the arrears with an own goal.
Northerners Lille, who finished fifth last season and will play in the Europa League, looked in control until striker Kevin Gameiro put the visitors in front by heading home a Monterrubio free kick on the half-hour.
Forward Marama Vahirua doubled Lorient's advantage from a Monterrubio cross early in the second half before Monterrubio beat his own goalkeeper with a header shortly after the hour.
(Editing by Brian Homewood; to query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)