Anderlecht produced a spirited performance to come back from a goal down against Bordeaux to win the opening leg of their UEFA Cup match by two goals to one. After a first half was relatively even and only rarely punctuated with moments of note it was Bordeaux who seemed poised to take an advantage into the second leg after Cavenaghi was fouled in the box. Jussie emphatically converted the penalty. The Belgians came roaring back into the game however and were level when Polak smashed in from close range. With the momentum firmly behind them Mpenza scored a late winner to end Bordeaux’s unbeaten European run this season.

Neither side showed any great shocks in the starting eleven as Anderlecht fielded a 4-4-1-1 system that employed Boussoufa playing just behind Akin. Both players impressed while Bart Goor in midfield impressed despite his advancing years. Polak and Chatelle really stood out in the middle of the park, the former scoring the leveller and the latter causing problems throughout the course of the ninety minutes. On the other hand Bordeaux, as expected, played a rotated side with top strikers Cavenaghi and Bellion dropped in favour of Chamakh and Jussie. In many ways it shows how strong Bordeaux are that their fringe players could perform so competitively against a side like Anderlecht however les Girondins proved weak in the centre of the field where Ducasse was overrun at times, causing problems for Diarra. Bordeaux also badly missed the presence of Marc Planus in the centre of their defence as without him they looked considerably more malleable at the back.

Early in the match play was well balanced, suggesting that Bordeaux’s weakened side could cope with Anderlecht, particularly as les Girondins began to up their game after a chance for Polak, who cause problems with his height all evening, was scrambled off the line by Diarra. Set plays did seem to cause Blanc’s men some problems with Juhasz heading a presentable chance over ten minutes later. Bordeaux steadied themselves and created their best opening as Jussie’s incisive play lead to a shooting chance for Obertan, who tugged his effort wide of Zitka’s goal minutes before half-time. After the interval little seemed to change in terms of the flow of the game, Akin inches away from putting his side ahead after being allowed freedom to move forward into the box by the central defence of Bordeaux. Arriving from the bench, Cavenaghi made an immediate difference, drawing the foul from which Jussie gave Bordeaux the lead. Having won all their previous UEFA Cup matches this season it seemed that Bordeaux would extend this record but finally Polak made a good corner count, thumping a header into the net ten minutes after their guests had grabbed the lead. There would be one final twist to the match as substitute Mbo Mpenza took advantage of a mistimed tackle by Diawara to slot home the winning goal three minutes into stoppage time.

Whether Anderlecht’s slender advantage is enough to see them through remains to be seen. Bordeaux have made a happy habit of coming back from goals down however they will have to do without Diarra in the second leg as a booking here means he is suspended.