Traore snatches Nice point

A last-gasp goal from Mahamane Traore restricted 10-man Bordeaux to a 1-1 draw against Nice.

A last-gasp goal from Mahamane Traore restricted 10-man Bordeaux to a solitary point as Nice claimed a creditable 1-1 draw in Ligue 1. Henri Saivet's 86th-minute header looked to have secured a victory for Francis Gillot's men, who battled hard despite seeing Ludovic Sane dismissed in the second half. The hosts were all set to join Marseille at the top of the table, for a few hours at least, until Traore struck two minutes into stoppage time. As a result, Bordeaux could finish the weekend no higher than fifth, with Les Aiglons moving another point clear of the relegation zone. Traore went close for the visitors early on, outmanoeuvring Nicolas Maurice-Belay to blast over the crossbar. Cedric Carrasso was at full stretch as Valentin Eysseric wriggled free to take his chance, before Bordeaux bared their teeth. Maurice-Belay beat his marker to make up the space in order to direct a fierce header just inches wide of a post. But Nice rallied and would have taken a narrow lead into the interval had Carrasso not swept up Eysseric's speculative effort. After the break, Eysseric was at the forefront again as he picked out Renato Civelli to force another reflex save from Carrasso. Gillot's charges laid siege to their plucky opposition's goal for a frantic 10-minute spell, Jussie first rattling the crossbar with a sweet volley before Yoan Gouffran narrowly missed the target with a snapshot. And when Civelli managed to snatch the ball away from the onrushing Maurice-Belay, Nice had weathered the storm. Sane soon received his marching orders for a tussle with Dario Cvitanich but the hosts remained determined to make the breakthrough. Maurice-Belay picked out Gouffran who volleyed from fully 20 yards, Joris Delle equal to the strike. But Saivet eventually outwitted the Nice keeper as Gregory Sertic's short free-kick bounced wildly in the area, the canny winger nodding beyond a flailing Delle. Former Middlesbrough man Didier Digard then released Civelli, who found Traore waiting in space to lob a stranded Carrasso. Despite the setback, Les Girondins went all out for a dramatic late winner and Delle proved to be Nice's hero, first repelling Saivet's header before deflecting Carlos Henrique's follow up to safety.