Placeholder canvas

Ben Arfa at double as Nice hit Bordeaux for six

Date:

Hatem Ben Arfa inspired Nice to a come-from-behind 6-1 victory over Bordeaux on Wednesday, scoring twice in a performance that should help bury his recent tussles with footballing red tape.

Jaroslav Plasil had finished off a neat Bordeaux build-up on six minutes as the visitors looked firmly on top, but Nice soon pulled ahead thanks to Ben Arfa’s industry and imagination.

Goals from Valere Germain and then Mikael Le Bihan, who tapped in a rebound from a long range shot from Ben Arfa, had Nice 2-1 ahead at half-time.

From the restart things got even worse for Bordeaux with a red card for Enzo Crivelli after 50 minutes and then an own-goal by Nicolas Pallois a minute later.

Ben Arfa then crowned a magnificent personal performance with a brace of goals on 68 and 74 minutes, one a tap in after a lightning breakaway, the other a flashing shot after a mazy run.

Alexandre Mendy added the sixth in the 84th minute.

Ben Arfa had been set to join Nice during the last winter break but was caught up in an administrative mix-up before FIFA and the French football governing body stepped in to block the transfer.

He had played a game with Newcastle’s reserves during the summer of 2014 before being loaned out to Hull City, meaning he was prevented from joining Nice due to a rule that a player can only play for two clubs in a single season.

Earlier this week, he lost his appeal against the ruling and where he had been trying to recover the earnings he lost during the time he was sidelined.

Saint Etienne needed an own goal in a 1-0 win against plucky newcomers Troyes, which came when Thomas Ayase tried to keep track with the onrushing striker Romain Hamouma only to turn the ball into his own goal.

Christophe Galtier’s team came fifth last season but are now sitting pretty in second, just a point behind Paris Saint Germain who beat Guingamp 1-0 on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, Lyon beat Bastia 2-0, Lorient beat Caen by the same score and tiny Gazalec Ajaccio of Corsica got their first home points in Ligue 1 with a 1-1 draw with Rennes.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Share post:

Subscribe

Popular

More like this
Related

IPL 2024: GT Eliminated From Playoff Race As Match Against KKR Abandoned Due To Rain

Ahmedabad: Shubman Gill's Gujarat Titans faced a disappointing blow...

Ex-Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi Passes Away

New Delhi: Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and Senior...

Massive Dust Storm, Rain Hits Mumbai: 8 Dead, 64 Injured After Metal Hoarding Collapses; High-Level Inquiry Ordered

Rainfall did bring major relief to Mumbaikars from heat. The sudden change in weather brought traffic traffic to a standstill as commuters took shelter during the storm

Bengaluru Court Grants Conditional Bail To HD Revanna In Kidnapping Case Linked To ‘Obscene Video’ Case

Bengaluru: Janata Dal (Secular) leader and Karnataka MLA, HD...