BORDEAUX goalkeeper Lassana Diabate scored a dramatic late equaliser to save a point for his struggling side that fell from grace this summer.
The Girondins are one of France’s oldest as well as biggest clubs that won the Ligue 1 title six times, but they got relegated to the fourth division this summer due to financial problems.
The former Champions League side are now looking to rebuild all the way back to the top flight, and started with a dramatic league opener on Saturday.
Bordeaux hosted Stade Poitevin away from their Matmut Atlantique ground due to logistical reasons.
Therefore the club started their National 2 journey at Stade Sainte Germaine behind closed doors and drew 1-1 thanks to a late goal by the unlikeliest saviour.
That was none other than Diabate, 21, who left his goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time for a final set piece.
Bordeaux were already 1-0 down and were staring at defeat which would pile on their already existing problems in the dying moments.
The goalkeeper took his position inside the Poitiers area and waited for the delivery.
The visitors’ poor marking as well as their keeper’s poor decision to leave his line led to Diabate’s header that hit the back of the net.
The Frenchman passionately celebrated his stunning goal with his team-mates by kicking the corner flag away.
Bankrupt Bordeaux were relegated for the second time in a month in August to the fourth tier.
Problems emerged last season, with the club coming 12th in the second-level Ligue 2 but needing £35million to balance the books.
And talks with Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group eventually broke down in July.
Bankruptcy and demotion followed – initially to the third tier, which is National 1.
Bordeaux went into receivership, as well as going part-time – reverting to “amateur” status after nine whole decades as a professional club.
France’s federal financial watchdog, the National Directorate of Management Control, then delivered another hammer-blow last month.
The NDMC acted as clubs in receivership must be “demoted to the division immediately below the one for which it would have qualified for the following season”.
That meant something that was unthinkable for Bordeaux just a year ago and that was spiralling down to National 2.
