Chelsea, Everton Target Josh Maja Brilliant Again As Bordeaux Halt Terrible Run

The Nigerian youngster assisted the crucial second goal as the Ligue 1 side, on Saturday, claimed a hard-fought 2-0 victory over their second-tier foe in the Coupe de France.

Josh Maja played only the last fifteen minutes but it was enough to see him lift Bordeaux past Le Mans at the Matmut-Atlantique Stadium. Goals from veteran Jimmy Briand and Toma Basic handed the home side their first win since a 6-0 hammering of Nines in the first week of December. Maja scored a hat trick and notched an assist on that day.

But the 21-year-old Super Eagles youngster, reportedly a January transfer target for Premier League sides Chelsea and Everton, started on the bench this afternoon as Paolo Sousa’s men started cautiously.

The home side, having lost their last four games in a row including an agonising 1-0 defeat at Rennes in the last match of 2019, were more focused on not conceding as the first half ended goalless.

But shortly after the restart, former Lyon star Briand took matters in his own hand to hand Les Girondis the opener. The 34-year-old’s experience weighed in as he won – and converted – a penalty in the 53rd minute.

The goal saw Bordeaux grow in confidence and Toma Basic clinched the result, latching onto Josh Maja’s pass to cap a counter-attack with a delightful toe-poke that saw Bordeaux advance to the round of 32.