St. Etienne draw with Bordeaux in Ligue-1

Saint-Etienne:

A superb second half strike from Julien Faubert earned Girondins Bordeaux a 1-1 draw against Saint-Etienne in France's Ligue-1 on Saturday. After losing 2-0 to Paris St. Germain at home last weekend, fourth placed Bordeaux were hoping for an improved performance. But the visitors could not have got off to a worse start. In the second minute, David Hellebuyck's corner picked out defender Herita Ilunga at the far post. With Bordeaux goalkeeper Ulrich Rame off his line, Ilunga's well-timed header found an open net. Both sides were finding chances hard to come by, and Saint-Etienne retained their one goal advantage at half-time. Bordeaux pushed forward in the second half and were eventually rewarded in the 75th minute. It was a moment of individual brilliance by midfielder Julien Faubert, whose strike from just outside the area gave Saint-Etienne goalkeeper Jeremy Janot no chance. The home side came perilously close to breaking the deadlock when substitute Bafetimbi Gomis headed over Rame. But Bordeaux defender Franck Jurietti scurried back and cleared the ball off the line. The visitors were reduced to ten men in injury time when striker Jean-Claude Darcheville was sent off for kicking an opponent. Both teams had to be satisfied with sharing the points, a result which leaves them still well adrift of runaway Ligue-1 leaders Lyon. (AP)