Lille boost Euro hopes

Lille took a huge step towards securing their Champions League spot with a 2-1 win over Bordeaux.

Lille took a huge step towards securing their Champions League spot with a 2-1 win over Bordeaux on Sunday. Salomon Kalou's 13th goal of the season set the hosts on their way before Ryan Mendes added a second. Jussie gave Bordeaux hope from the penalty spot with 20 minutes left to play but Rene Girard's side held on to claim the result that opens up a seven point gap between them and fourth-placed St Etienne with three games to play. The home crowd were made to wait 15 minutes before their team had an effort at goal but, when it came, Divock Origi's shot was gathered easily by Cedric Carrasso after the youngster turned well on the edge of the box. Lille did all the early pressing and, after Diego Rolan headed over from Lucas Orban's cross, the hosts finally found a breakthrough with 23 minutes played. Florent Balmont found space on the right and his superb ball from deep found Kalou unmarked in the area with the former Chelsea man dispatching a clinical header to beat Carrasso for the first time in the match. The hosts continued to look dangerous as the half wore on and Mendes went close to adding a second but, after his shot took a wicked deflection off Ludovic Sane, Carrasso was on hand to keep his effort out before the Bordeaux keeper was called upon again to prevent Origi once more. The one way traffic continued after the break and Mendes' cross-cum-shot almost caught Carrasso out, forcing the keeper to palm over, before Kalou went even closer minutes later when his shot came back off the post. Lille finally got the second goal their performance deserved when, on 67 minutes, Mendes pounced on a rebound after Carrasso had got down to keep out Simon Kjaer's thunderous free-kick. Bordeaux ensured it was a nervy finish when Jussie pulled one back from the penalty spot after he'd been hauled down inside the area by Kjaer but the hosts held on to take a valuable three points, and could even afford to miss a late penalty of their own when Kalou fired wide after he'd been fouled by Mariano.