French Ligue 1: Luck smiles on Nantes

Nantes moved within four points of opponents Bordeaux in the Ligue 1 table after a remarkable and fortuitous 2-1 win at the Stade de la Beaujoire.

Bordeaux struck a post and had three efforts cleared off the line, in addition to losing the game to a freak own goal from their keeper Azbe Jug.

Jordan Veretout had earlier opened the scoring for Nantes while Bordeaux's equaliser was another own goal, Kian Hansen the unlucky Nantes player.

The visitors arrived in good form and looked to improve on their recent run when Wahbi Khazri's early volley cleared the crossbar before Thomas Toure almost opened the scoring on eight minutes.

Mariano's superb ball released the 20-year-old in behind Les Canaris' defence but, after going past goalkeeper Remy Riou, his goalbound effort was hacked off the line by Papy Djilobodji.

Despite dominating early on, though, Bordeaux found themselves a goal behind with 23 minutes played when Veretout got on the end of Alejandro Bedoya's ball before beating the diving Jug, whose firm hand failed to prevent the opener.

The hosts' lead lasted a matter of minutes though as Khazri broke free on the right before picking out Gregory Sertic, whose effort was turned in by Nantes defender Hansen.

Bordeaux continued to produce the better openings and the lively Khazri almost grabbed them a deserved lead five minutes before the break but his free-kick from out wide found the near post of Riou's goal.

An invigorated Nantes came out after the break and both Georges-Kevin N'Koudou and Bedoya had early opportunities in the second half but neither managed to work Jug.

Willy Sagnol's side offered an instant response and, following some great build-up play, Toure tested Riou from just inside the area but his effort lacked the accuracy to test the Nantes' keeper.

Then, with 66 minutes on the clock, Les Canaris restored their advantage in fortuitous circumstances when Djilobodji's header was turned onto the post by Cheikh Diabate before striking the head of the diving Jug and ending up in his own net.

Somehow Nantes survived a late push from Bordeaux when Diego Rolan saw a header cleared off the line by Oswaldo Vizcarrondo before Ludovic Sane had his follow-up kept out by Bedoya with Riou well beaten.