A Christophe Dugarry goal gave Bordeaux a 1-0 away win against Slavia Prague in their UEFA Cup, semi-final first leg game in Prague last night.

Bordeaux, 1000 to 1 outsiders at the start of the competition after qualifying through the Intertoto Cup, host the second leg on April 16th.

Dugarry, scoring his third goal of the campaign, netted in the eighth minute. He received the ball inside the penalty area from fellow international Zinedine Zidane, and although his shot was straight at goalkeeper Jan Stejskal, it crept over the line.

Only a minute earlier Bordeaux goalkeeper Gaetan Huard pulled off a great save from Slavia striker Daniel Smejkal.

The French, inspired by the trio of captain Bixente Lizarazu, Zidane and Dutchman Richard Witschge, formerly at Barcelona, dominated the first half on a terrible pitch.

The 24-year-old Dugarry, capped nine times by France, struck the post and should have doubled the margin later in the half but shot weakly at Stejskal, the former Czech national goalkeeper.

However, the French were not able to take advantage of a Czech defence weakened by the absence through suspension of internationals Jan Suchoparek and Martin Penicka.

Slavia, who lead their national league, were the better team in the second half inspired by playmaker Karel Poborsky, who came closest to scoring for the Prague side in the 77th minute. He cut inside Geoffrey Toyes and shot under Huard but Lizarazu cleared off the line.

Poborsky then set up star striker Vladimir Smicer, doubtful before the match because of injury, whose mistimed shot was diverted for a corner.

In the 82nd minute Poborsky crossed for Smicer to head down to Radek Bejbl whose fierce shot was parried by Huard.

The Czechs, nine times national champions, suffered a blow when stylish defender Pavel Novotny was booked in the 78th minute and will miss the return leg.

Bordeaux will hope that after being knocked out twice in European semi-finals, the 1985 European Cup and the 1987 Cup Winners Cup, it will be third time lucky.