Bunny brace - Shaw hits double in Bordeaux league debut

Jamaican international footballer Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw started her maiden season at French club Girondins de Bordeaux in terrific form, on Saturday as she bagged a brace in the opening game of the Division 1 Féminine. Her goals helped Bordeaux to a 4-1 win over FC Fleury 91.

Shaw continued on her impressive preseason form where she scored two goals against Athletic Bilbao in a friendly match. On Saturday, she officially added to her tally in competitive matches with goals in the 75th and 90th minute of play.

Bordeaux came out flying in the first half and went 1-0 up after pressure from Shaw caused Fleury defender Rikke Sevecke to turn the ball into her own net. Shaw came close to scoring later in the first half but saw her shot ricocheted off the post.

She did get her goal, though, in the 75th minute off a corner when she got ahead of the Fleury custodian to head the ball towards goal. Despite the ball being cleared away by a defender, the referee determined that the ball had crossed the line and let the goal stand.

SPARKLING RUN

Fleury would however half their deficit four minutes later when a sparkling run from Marina Makanza unlocked Bordeaux’s defence and slotted home to make the game 2-1.

Bordeaux restored their two- goal lead in the 82th minute after a handball in the box led to a penalty. Viviane Asseyi converted from the spot.

Shaw returned in the dying moments of the game after a series of combination play from the midfield allowed her to slip through to latch on to a through pass to finish coolly past the outstretched goalkeeper.

The win sees Bordeaux jumping to third place in the league, with PSG and Lyon first and second after recording 7-0 and 6-0 victories, respectively

– Gregory Bryce