Samuel Kalu’s Bordeaux sink to new low in season opener

The Nigerian international was one of Les Girondins better players on a disappointing day for everyone associated with the club

Bordeaux suffered an embarrassing 2-0 defeat to newly-promoted Clermont Foot on Sunday in their first match of the new Ligue 1 campaign at their traditional home ground, the Matmut Atlantique.

Super Eagles winger Samuel Kalu was one of Girondins’ better players on the day, but goals from Mohamed Bayo and Jodel Dossou left nothing to cheer for the terrible home side.

It’s been a forgettable last couple of months for Bordeaux, with the club battling a severe financial crisis, avoiding administration by the whiskers, and the supporters in a head-on collision with the owners.

Matters got even worse against Clermont Foot on Sunday.

With the club unable to afford any significant signing in the transfer window, new manager Vladimir Petkovic named old hands Jimmy Briand, Laurent Koscielny, and co in his starting eleven, while Kalu also found a spot on the wings.

After getting booked in the 35th minute, Kalu provided one of his side’s first-half highlights moments before the break when he aimed a shot from outside the box, but the visitors’ goalkeeper Arthur Desmas had it under control.

Ten minutes after the interval, the Nigerian midfielder got even closer to breaking the deadlock when he brought the ball forward beautifully, only to watch Desmas save his goal-bound effort again.

The Super Eagles forward was, however, substituted midway through the second half with Amadou Traore.

Clermont Foot had been impressive from kick-off, and they were rewarded for their progressive play when Bayo and Dossou netted late efforts to stun their more illustrious foes.