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Bordeaux end Cluj's dream run

October 23, 2008 10:29 IST

Girondins Bordeaux ended the unbeaten Champions League run of surprise package CFR Cluj with a 1-0 win over the Romanian side in a Group A match on Wednesday.

- Images from Wednesday's matches

Cluj, who had started with a shock 2-1 win at AS Roma before holding Chelsea to a 0-0 draw in Romania, put up a brave fight until their captain, Cadu, deflected a Yoann Gourcuff cross into his own net on 54 minutes.

Bordeaux, who were hammered 4-0 by Chelsea before losing 3-1 to AS Roma, badly needed Cadu's help to put their campaign on track.

Last season's Ligue 1 runners-up created few clear chances and looked nervous at times in a tense, tactical affair featuring a late red card for Cluj midfielder Eugen Trica for a second booking.

The first clear chance was for the visitors when midfielder Gabriel Muresan headed the ball over the bar just before the half-hour mark.

Bordeaux responded immediately with Brazilian midfielder Fernando firing narrowly wide from outside the box.

Cluj threatened again on 36 minutes with an low angled shot by midfielder Juan Culio that Bordeaux keeper Ulrich Rame did well to save.

Bordeaux stepped up a gear after taking the lead and came close to doubling the advantage with another clumsy deflection by Cadu, this time with a header from a corner, that Cluj keeper Eduard Stancioiu managed to slap over the bar.

The visitors, however, did not give up and came close to an equaliser when forward Yssouf Kone raced into the box and narrowly missed the target with 13 minutes left.

Source: REUTERS
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