Bordeaux welcomed APOEL to the Stade Chaban Delmas on Thursday evening as both sides went in search of their first win in the Europa League group stages this season.
The home side took the lead when Ludovic Sane headed home the opening goal in the 24th minute but APOEL were level just before the break thanks to an equaliser from Esmael Goncalves.
It looked like the points would be shared until the final minute of normal time when Henrique headed in the winner to secure a 2-1 victory for Bordeaux.
Read below to find out how the drama unfolded.
Good evening everyone. I'm here to bring you coverage of a big match in Group F of the Europa League. Bordeaux and APOEL both need a positive result but who will come out on top?
BORDEAUX: Carrasso, Brechet, Henrique, Chalme, Poundje, Obraniak, Saivet, Sertic, Traore, Sane, Rolan
APOEL: Pardo, Sergio, Alexandrou, Oliveira, Guilherme, Morais, Vinicius, Da Silva, Aloneftis, Charalambides, Goncalves
Both teams are out in the middle now and the referee is almost ready to let the action begin.
Bordeaux get the game underway.
APOEL start the game brightly but Bordeaux are equal to the challenge so far.
Bordeaux have moved the ball around quickly so far but most of their play has come in midfield, with no threat being carried yet.
Plenty of patience being shown by the hosts. Not much to report in terms of action near the goal in the first few minutes.
APOEL aren't seeing too much of the ball at the moment. Bordeaux almost break through on goal but an off side flag stops the move.
APOEL win a free kick in a good position but the position is wasted and Bordeaux are easily able to clear the danger.
Obraniak swings in a dangerous cross from a set piece but the visitors win the first ball and retain possession to move out of defence.
CLOSE! Saivet rises highest to meet a corner but his header is poor from 12 yards as the ball drifts wide of the target.
Obraniak displays some great skill in midfield to lose his marker and chip the ball over the visiting defence. Pardo rushes off his line to clear the danger under pressure from Saivet.
Rolan is beginning to frighten the defenders with his pace and he almost creates a chance for himself when he skips past a couple of opponents. However, his touch is poor at a crucial point and the chance disappears.
Poor from Saivet, who wastes a good opportunity to deliver a cross when he slices a long range effort wide of the target.
CLOSE! Alexandrou collects the ball in space on the left and he whips in an inviting cross but Goncalves heads over from eight yards. Big chance for the visitors.
It's the away side who have played the better football in the last few minutes but they're struggling to make the right decision in the final third.
Bordeaux are going to have to be very patient tonight. APOEL are frustrating the hosts with the amount of players that are being asked to sit in front of the defence.
Obraniak seems to be the key man for Bordeaux tonight. He once again tricks his way past a defender before delivering a good cross which is well dealt with by the visitors.
GOAL! BORDEAUX 1-0 APOEL (SANE)
Sertic's corner is perfect for Sane, who loses his marker to head home at the near post. Brilliant finish. That's a crucial breakthrough this early in the game.
It will be interesting to see how APOEL react to that opening goal. They've been reluctant to commit too many men forward in the first quarter of this game but they have to respond now.
It's been an easy night for Bordeaux at the back so far. Both sides have seen their fair share of the ball since Sane's goal but it's the hosts who continue to look more comfortable.
There's some optimistic shouts for a penalty when Alonefitis goes down but Chalme had simply run across his rival, with no foul taking place.
Obraniak has looked dangerous every time he's received the ball in the first half. He think he's got a great opportunity to double his side's lead until the assistant referee raises his flag.
CHANCE! Saivet picks out Obraniak, who doesn't have much time to unleash a shot but when he does, Pardo does enough to make the save. Good goalkeeping.
APOEL have certainly been much positive since falling behind. However, the visitors do look slightly less solid in defence and Bordeaux are beginning to adopt a more direct approach.
I'd be lying if I told you that the football on show was of the highest quality but both sides have clearly started this match with clear game plans. APOEL may need to think about changing their plan at half time.
It looks like Brechet has picked out Obraniak with a brilliant long pass but the off side flag once again intervenes at a crucial moment.
SAVE! Obraniak collects the ball on the right side of the box but he chooses to cut inside onto his favoured left foot. Pardo reacts brilliantly to block a low shot from creeping in.
Goncalves is adopting a very physical approach in the lone striker role but he's fighting a losing battle at the moment against the Bordeaux defence.
Saivet wins a free kick when he takes a painful knock on his Achilles. Bordeaux choose to keep the ball in midfield as the half time whistle approaches.
Rolan misses the chance to unleash a shot but he keeps the move alive when he plays a good pass towards Traore, who can't beat Pardo to the ball.
GOAL! BORDEAUX 1-1 APOEL (GONCALVES)
APOEL have shocked the hosts by equalising on the stroke of half time. Aloneftis broke away on the left before whipping in a superb cross to give Goncalves the simple task of tapping in at the back post.
HALF-TIME: BORDEAUX 1-1 APOEL
The referee brings the first half to an end and APOEL will head into the break absolutely delighted. Bordeaux controlled proceedings for most of the first 45 minutes but they lost concentration to allow APOEL to level the scores.
APOEL had barely created an opportunity before Goncalves slotted home his goal in the 45th minute. That equaliser sets things up perfectly for the second half.
Bordeaux were perhaps guilty of taking their foot off the gas slightly after they had taken the lead and they were punished. The hosts will more than likely improve in the second half and they must take their chances when they arrive.
In tonight's other game in this group Eintracht Frankfurt are taking on Maccabi Tel Aviv and the German club are currently winning 1-0.
Both teams have returned to the pitch for the second half. It's a massive 45 minutes for both sides. APOEL will get the match back underway.
SUBSTITUTION: Sertic has been replaced by Cheick Diabate for the second half.
Good tempo from APOEL at the beginning of the second half and they look full of confidence as they win an early corner.
Bordeaux clear the corner but they struggle to retain the possession as the visitors keep the pressure on after the break.
CHANCE! Rolan does superbly on the right to beat two players before picking out Saivet, who wastes a great opportunity when he fires over the crossbar.
Rolan once again causes problems with his pace but the challenge is too tough for him this time as APOEL crowd out the forward.
Aloneftis is the key player for the visitors tonight. He made a key contribution for the goal and his pace when running at the defence is a concern for Bordeaux.
CHANCE! Goncalves receives a pass and he's in a great area to put the visitors ahead but he chooses to fire a tame shot straight at Carasso despite Aloneftis being free in the middle.
Bordeaux certainly don't look as secure at the back as they did in the first half. APOEL are looking increasingly dangerous when they have the ball.
CLOSE! Obraniak sets his sights on the bottom corner from the edge of the box but his effort is tipped onto the post by Pardo. Inches away from a goal.
CLOSE! It's APOEL who hit the woodwork this time as Aloneftis fires a low shot against the post from long range. It's an open match now, with both sides searching for the winner.
Bordeaux are beginning to lose their concentration at the back, with mistake after mistake being made by the hosts.
APOEL are doing well to deal with a more direct approach from Bordeaux, who need to involve Rolan more in their attacks.
Just as I mention Rolan, he almost creates an opening when his delivery towards the back post just evades Saivet.
Much better from the home side as they switch the play from left to right before Obraniak's inviting delivery is cleared away before a Bordeaux player can make contact.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Gustavo Manduca replaces Alexandrou and Mario Budmir comes on for Goncalves. Bordeaux make changes too as Saivet and Obraniak make way for Julian Faubert and Hadi Sacko.
CLOSE! Traore plays a perfect pass to Rolan, who opens up his body before drilling the ball just wide of the far post. That could prove to be a big miss.
YELLOW CARD! Sane receives the first caution of the night when he chops down Sergio in the middle of the pitch.
It's been a better spell for Bordeaux in the past few minutes but they're lacking quality in the final third of the pitch.
Sacko is making his presence known in midfield and he's already made a couple of tough challenges since coming on. APOEL seem to be happy to attack on the break now as the game enters its closing stages.
APOEL are dropping deeper and deeper, which is inviting some pressure from the hosts. Good possession from the hosts but they need to be creating opportunities at this stage.
SAVE! Brilliant from Pardo. Diabate controls the ball superbly on his chest before seeing his volley stopped by the APOEL goalkeeper.
SUBSTITUTION: Aloneftis is replaced by Tiago Gomes as APOEL look to secure what could be valuable draw.
SAVE! Pardo is once again forced to deny Diabate when the big forward targets the bottom corner with a powerful header. Can Bordeaux find a winner?
APOEL's attempts to keep the ball further up the pitch are ruined when Morais gives away possession with a lazy pass. Bordeaux will fancy their chances in the closing stages.
Gomes wins a free kick in a good position for the visitors. Budmir rises highest to win a header inside the box but his effort isn't even close to worrying Carrasso.
Guilherme is hurt when he collides with Diabate inside the box. APOEL have their complaints but there was no intent from the Bordeaux substitute.
Guilherme heads off the pitch to receive some treatment as APOEL attempt to slow down proceedings with just a few minutes left in this match.
Traore launches the ball into the box and Diabate, the intended target, wins the header. However, Rolan cannot react and the visitors clear the danger.
GOAL! BORDEAUX 2-1 APOEL (HENRIQUE)
Bordeaux have surely won it in the final minute of normal time. Rolan's free kick from the left causes all sorts of problems and Henrique takes advantage to head past a stranded Pardo. Big drama in the closing stages!
It's tough on APOEL but they've been punished for inviting too much pressure on themselves late on. The visitors are pushing for a way back into this game but there will only be four minutes of added time played.
It's bad news for APOEL as Bordeaux dominate possession in stoppage time with the final whistle quickly approaching.
FULL-TIME: BORDEAUX 2-1 APOEL
It's a massive result for Bordeaux. In truth, the probably were not at their best but Henrique's 90th minute goal earns them all three points this evening.
APOEL had their moments and on a different day they might have snatched a victory but they'll head back home disappointed with this loss.
Frankfurt beat Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-0 in Group F's other game this evening, which means that Bordeaux are now just one point behind the Israeli club.
Thanks for joining me tonight and I hope you've enjoyed our Europa League coverage. Goodnight.
Written by
Callum Mulvihill
Callum Mulvihill
