Yachvili late show stuns Sarries
Biarritz sneaked a dramatic last-minute victory against Saracens with Dimitri Yachvili's penalty giving them a 22-21 success.
Last Updated: 17/11/07 6:12pm
Biarritz sneaked a last-minute victory with Dimitri Yachvili's 80th-minute penalty handing them a 22-21 success over Saracens in their Heineken Cup clash.
Sarries scored three tries to Biarritz's one, but penalties cost them dear as Yachivili's five successful kicks gave the home side the points.
Kamile Ratuvou and Rodd Penney had touched down for the Guinness Premiership side, and Andy Farrell looked to have won it with his late try, only for Yachvili to break Sarries' hearts with his even later penalty.
After Yachvili kicked his first penalty, Saracens winger Ratuvou put the English side ahead with the opening try on six minutes, which was converted by Glen Jackson.
Yachvili kicked a second penalty to keep Biarritz in touch, but Penney crossed the line on 35 minutes to put Saracens 14-6 ahead after Jackson again added the extras.
Penalty problems
The boot of Yachvili was hurting Saracens though, and two more successful penalties took his, and Biarritz's, points tally to 12 as they trailed by just two.
Philippe Bidabe put the hosts ahead for the first time since the opening exchanges with 53 minutes on the clock when he went in for Biarritz's one-and-only try of the match, which was inevitably converted by Yachvili.
With eight minutes left to play, the much-maligned Farrell grabbed what looked to be the crucial score, with Jackson's successful conversion putting Saracens 21-19 ahead and in touch of a superb away victory.
However, with time almost up, Yachvili stepped up to kick his fifth penalty through the posts and send Saracens tumbling to a dramatic defeat.
Undoubtedly the match-winner for Biarritz, Yachvili ended the game with 17 points as the French side made it two wins from two in Pool 4.