Bordeaux buoyed by Faubert finish

An added-time strike from French Under-21 winger Julien Faubert earned FC Girondins de Bordeaux a dramatic Ligue 1 victory at home against RC Strasbourg while Olympique de Marseille unexpectedly lost at AC Ajaccio.

Le Pen on target
With leaders Olympique Lyonnais taking on AJ Auxerre on Sunday, Bordeaux knew that victory at the Stade Chaban-Delmas would cut the gap at the top to eleven points. The home side made a poor start, however, falling behind after only ten minutes as Strasbourg striker Kevin Gameiro was brought down in the penalty area and Ulrich Le Pen beat Ulrich Ramé from the penalty spot.

Faubert delight
Bordeaux gradually worked their way back into the match and drew level eight minutes before half-time through former AC Siena midfielder Fernando Menegazzo. Strasbourg then lost their new signing, Egyptian midfielder Abou Moslim, to a red card for a tackle from behind, but held firm until two minutes into added time. With seconds remaining, however, Franck Jurietti's free-kick was met by Faubert, who volleyed Bordeaux's winner.

Rivals falter
That win took on added significance as the three sides in fourth, fifth and sixth position - LOSC Lille Métropole, Paris Saint-Germain FC and Marseille - all failed to pick up three points. Marseille lost 3-1 at Ajaccio, whose win was their first in 16 league matches, with Waldeir Lucas scoring twice. PSG also lost away from home, going down to Sammy Traoré's header two minutes from time, while Lille were held to a goalless draw at Toulouse FC.

Metz misery
Le Mans UC 72 moved up to seventh position with a 3-1 success at ES Troyes Aube Champagne, Japanese midfielder Daisuke Matsui scoring twice in five first-half minutes. AS Nancy-Lorraine won 2-0 at Stade Rennais FC while FC Sochaux-Montbéliard overwhelmed AS Saint-Etienne, running out 4-0 victors. FC Metz slipped to the bottom of the table with their sixth home defeat of the season, going down 4-1 against FC Nantes Atlantique.