UEFA Champions League
PSV down Bordeaux
Afp, Bordeaux
A second half goal from Mika Vayrynen kept Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven on course for the next round of the Champions League with a 1-0 win at Group C rivals Bordeaux on Wednesday.The veteran Finnish midfielder broke the deadlock after 65 minutes to put his side level on four points but behind English side Liverpool on goal difference. Bordeaux's chances of qualifying are now slim with last season's French runners-up holding just one point after their goalless draw against Galatasaray. Despite missing several key players through injury including captain Phillip Cocu, Jefferson Farfan, Jason Culina and Patrick Kluivert, PSV made most of the early running at the Chaban-Delmas stadium. Bordeaux skipper Ulrich Rame was hard pressed to keep his goal clear in the first quarter of an hour making an athletic dive to clear an Arouna Kone deflection off a Vayrynen corner after 15 minutes. It was then the turn of Vayrynen to send the ball wide four minutes later. PSV goalie Heurelho Gomes did well to keep out a long free-kick from Johan Micoud after 21 minutes when the Brazilian stopped on the line one of the best efforts of the night from the hosts. Back after the break Vayrynen finally made the breakthrough after good work from Kone left the midfielder unmarked and he made no mistake firing past a helpless Rame. Bordeaux reacted immediately, pouring forward but missed a golden opportunity to level after 81 minutes when Gomes did well to punch out a David Jemmali effort. The hosts had the numerical superiority after PSV's Michael Lamey was given his marching orders three minutes later for elbowing Moroccan international striker Marouane Chamakh during an aerial challenge. But not even a final header from Stephane Dalmat could find the target, leaving the French to await a visit in three weeks from 2004 champions Liverpool.
|