PSV Eindhoven 1 - 3 Bordeaux

PSV Eindhoven 1-3 Bordeaux: Inspired sign off

Updated: December 5, 2006, 10:05 PM UK

EINDHOVEN, Netherlands, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Three first-half goals inspired Girondins Bordeaux to a 3-1 win away to an uninspired PSV Eindhoven in a Champions League Group C game with nothing riding on it on Tuesday.

Julien Faubert gave Bordeaux an early lead, while Stephane Dalmat and Jean-Claude Darcheville punished a lacklustre home side, who had already reached the last 16 as runners-up to Liverpool.

Three minutes before time Brazilian Alex hammered home a 20-metre free kick as a late consolation for PSV.

Liverpool finished top with 13 points, three above PSV, while Bordeaux came third with seven points and will continue their European campaign in the UEFA Cup.

'Tonight we played a good match but I still believe that we belong in third place in the group,' Bordeaux coach Ricardo told reporters.

'The first three matches we were not there, while PSV and Liverpool were ready from the beginning because they play at this level every year and we don't.'

The visitors gave PSV their first warning after three minutes when goalkeeper Gomes had to stretch to save a close range header from Darcheville.

Three minutes later Bordeaux opened the scoring after Philip Cocu lost the ball and Darcheville played in Faubert, who fired past the hesitant Gomes.

Bordeaux, who secured third place two weeks ago with a 3-1 win over Galatasaray, made it 2-0 with a superb lob from Dalmat after 24 minutes before Darcheville added a third 12 minutes later.

In between the French side's dangerous counter attacks PSV created just one chance in the first half but Diego Tardelli missed the target from close range after some fine combination football from Alex and Jefferson Farfan.

PSV coach Ronald Koeman tried to turn the match by bringing on Patrick Kluivert and Arouna Kone up front but, despite an effort from defender Alex that was ruled out for offside, Bordeaux had nothing to fear from a toothless Dutch offence.

Alex did, however, find the net in the final minutes with a powerful free kick.

'Our first half performance was unworthy of PSV,' coach Ronald Koeman told reporters. 'You wonder how this can happen because so many things went wrong.

'This team can be excellent when everyone is 100 percent focussed. On a domestic level, matches like these are not always punished but Bordeaux appeared four times before our goal and scored three times and that annoys me.'