Substitute Enzo Crivelli struck with 14 minutes remaining to ensure that Bordeaux avoided a shock and progressed to the Europa League group stage on away goals with a 2-1 playoff round second-leg win over Kairat at Almaty Ortalyk Stadion this evening.
Bordeaux brought a slender 1-0 advantage to Kazakhstan but saw that lead wiped out inside the first minute of the return leg when Cedric Yambere put Sito Riera's ball into his own net.
An invigorated Kairat went on the front foot after the breakthrough, Isael da Silva Barbosa having an effort saved by Bordeaux goalkeeper Jerome Prior before Anatoliy Tymoshchuk's attempt from the resultant corner was blocked.
The Ligue 1 side were rattled by the early setback and did not have their first meaningful effort on goal until the 37th minute when Andre Poko's curling shot came close.
After Tymoshchuk had another shot blocked, Bordeaux should have levelled when Wahbi Khazri, scorer of the winner in the first leg, brought Diego Rolan's pass under control but fired narrowly over the bar from a good position.
Kairat looked to have sealed progression to the group stage after 66 minutes when Islambek Kuat added a second goal to put them in front for the first time in the tie.
However, Khazri fed substitute Crivelli to score just seven minutes after entering the action and ensure that it was the French side who qualified on away goals.
Tom Nightingale
