Valenciennes are relegated

Julien Faubert confirmed Valenciennes' relegation from Ligue 1 after his late goal secured a 1-0 win for Bordeaux.

Julien Faubert confirmed Valenciennes' relegation from Ligue 1 after his late goal secured a 1-0 win for Bordeaux at the Stade du Hainaut. Going into the game the hosts - present in the top flight since 2006 - knew they needed a miracle to pull themselves out of trouble given their inferior goal difference, but Sunday's result secured their fate. To make matters worse for Valenciennes they missed a golden chance to score early on as Maor Melikson's penalty was saved by Bordeaux keeper Cedric Carrasso. The hosts came flying out of the blocks with David Ducourtioux firing a speculative 25-yard strike that Carrasso was forced to punch clear. Building on that momentum, Valenciennes were awarded a spot kick in the eighth minute when Ludovic Sane was fouled by Majeed Waris inside the box. Carrasso then got down well to deny Melikson and both sides had a series of chances before half-time - Diego Rolan looked particularly dangerous when volleying hard against a post, while Waris forced a smart stop from Carrasso with a point-blank header - but the game remained goalless at the break. Melikson tried to atone for his penalty miss shortly after the interval by curling a right-footed effort on goal from the left-hand side of the box but Carrasso denied him again. Bordeaux came close to scoring the opener in the 55th minute as Cheick Diabate ran onto Faubert's pass to dribble past Macedo Novaes and shoot at the empty goalmouth. However, Mater got back just in time to clear the ball off the line and keep VA alive in the contest for a little while longer. Yet Faubert would break Valenciennes' hearts 16 minutes from time, the former West Ham full-back latching on to a great through ball from Gregory Sertic to fire past Novaes.