Marseille start lucky, but end with romp over Zurich

November 4, 2009

Marseille made the most of early fortune before romping to a 6-1 win over FC Zurich here on Tuesday that add hope to the French side’s dreams of qualifying from Champions League group stages.

Marseille started the match without injured Argentine international playmaker Lucho Gonzalez, prompting Didier Deschamps into a shake up that saw Hilton replace Taye Taiwo at left back and Baky Kone join Brandao and Mamadou Niang in a three-pronged attack.

That decision paid off handsomely, with Niang, Hilton and Brandao adding their names to a scoresheet that was loaded with goals in the latter stages.

However Marseille’s eventual dominance of their fourth encounter in Group C, with their final two games against Real Madrid and AC Milan still to come, was initially not all their own doing.

Marseille started with punch but when the opening goal came on three minutes the head of Zurich midfielder Silvan Aegerter turned the ball past Johnny Leoni in the visitors’ net.

Marseille continued to dominate the early stages and, again, another free kick from the left led to their second goal.

This time a more cohesive Zurich defence held their line firmly as Niang, Brandao and Kone all pushed towards goal.

But all three players appeared blatantly off-side when Fabrice Abriel’s free kick rose then dipped dangerously close to the Zurich net before beating the Zurich ‘keeper.

Marseille had two chances to pull further ahead, the first when Bruno Cheyrou’s angled shot, after some nice play by Abriel then Niang, was shot straight at Leoni.

On 25 minutes Brandao, unmarked barely 10 yards from the goal, then fired a first-time effort over the crossbar after Niang had provided the pass after pouncing on a poor clearance by the Zurich defence.

When Zurich reduced the deficit six minutes later it came without any external assistance.

Frenchman Alexandre Alphonse picked up a pass just outside the area, turned and held off defenders Stephane Mbia and Gabriel Heinze to beat Steve Mandanda with a great left-foot drive.

His goal had Deschamps up out of his seat, and gave the visitors a much needed zest that, for the remainder of the first half, had Marseille at sixes and sevens and edged them closer to scoring the equaliser.

Despite brief flashes of attacking play from Zurich, the second half seemed to be all about Marseille showing their first half advantage was no fluke.

A Heinze drive that flew just over the far top corner signalled their intentions early on, and soon the hosts were 3-1 up after Kone returned Niang’s pass and watched the Marseille striker pounce to beat Leoni from close range on 52 minutes.

Zurich had a convincing claim for a penalty waved away in the 65th minute, and their misfortune was compounded in the 80th minute when Hilton drove home their fourth goal after a loose ball fell to his feet inside the area.

Seven minutes later Cheyrou carried the ball from the right flank before unleashing a superb drive that had Leoni flapping at thin air and left the ball in the net.

At the death Brandao took their tally to six after latching on to a solid cross-goal Niang pass to beat Leoni from a yard out.

MARSEILLE, France (AFP)

Tags: AC, Alexandre Alphonse, Argentine, bruno cheyrou, champions league group, didier deschamps, external assistance, Fabrice Abriel, fc zurich, french side, gabriel heinze, Gonzalez, group stages, Johnny Leoni, latter stages, MADRID, mamadou niang, Marseille, mbia, Milan, playmaker, pronged attack, real madrid, scoresheet, silvan, stephane mbia, Steve Mandanda, Taiwo, ZURICH

Nigeria call up injured Mikel Obi for crucial qualifier

November 3, 2009

Nigeria have selected Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi, who is sidelined with an ankle injury, for a crucial World Cup qualifier against Kenya on November 14 in Nairobi.

Mikel missed Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying match at home to Mozambique last month as a result of the injury.

Russia-based right fullback Chidi Odiah has been reconsidered by coach Shuaibu Amodu after he was frozen out of the team’s last three matches.

Nigeria need to win in Kenya and hope Tunisia do not do so in Mozambique so as to finish top of Group Two and qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv/ISR), Greg Etafia (Moroka Swallows/RSA), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei-Yehuda/ISR)

Defenders: Onyekachi Apam (Nice/FRA), Elderson Echiejile (Rennes/FRA), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow/RUS), Taye Taiwo (Marseille/FRA), Joseph Yobo (Everton/ENG), Obinna Nwaneri (FC Sion/SUI), Danny Shittu (Bolton/ENG), Dele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam/NED)

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea/ENG), Seyi Olofinjana (Hull City/ENG), Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kiev/UKR), Sani Kaita (Locomotiv Moscow/RUS), Oluwafemi Ajilore (Groningen/NED)

Strikers: Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg/GER), Osaze Odemwingie (Locomotiv Moscow/RUS), Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth/ENG), Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Everton/ENG), Michael Eneramo (Esperance/TUN), Victor Obinna (Malaga/SPA), Joseph Akpala (Club Brugge/BEL)

LAGOS (AFP)

Tags: CHELSEA, chelsea eng, club brugge, cska moscow, danny shittu, dynamo kiev, GER, Greg Etafia, groningen, hapoel tel aviv, hull city, john mikel obi, Joseph Akpala, joseph yobo, kenya, LAGOS, locomotiv moscow, Malaga, Michael Eneramo, Mikel, Mikel Obi, moroka swallows, Moscow, Mozambique, nairobi, NED, nigeria, nwankwo kanu, Portsmouth, russia, Sani Kaita, seyi olofinjana, South Africa, south africa squad, sparta rotterdam, Taiwo, taye taiwo, Tel Aviv, Tunisia, victor obinna, Vincent, vincent enyeama, world cup qualifier, yakubu aiyegbeni, Yusuf Ayila

Nigeria defeat Kenya to revive World Cup hopes

June 8, 2009

LAGOS (AFP) – Nigeria defeated Kenya 3-0 at the Abuja National Stadium Sunday to get their World Cup qualification campaign back on track.

Getafe forward Ikechukwu Uche opened the scoring after just two minutes before Obinna Nsofor from Inter Milan grabbed a brace in the second half.

Tunisia stay top of Group B with six points from two matches after they defeated Mozambique 2-0 at home Saturday, with Nigeria two points behind in second place.

Mozambique are on one point while Kenya remain pointless.

Both Tunisia and Nigeria clash in Tunis in two weeks time at the Rades Stadium in a match that could well provide an indication of the overall leadership of this group.

Inside a packed 60,000-capacity Abuja National Stadium, Nigeria started a youthful team without established internationals like Joseph Yobo, Mikel John Obi and Taye Taiwo, who stayed away from the team’s recent friendly matches against the Republic of Ireland and France.

It took the Super Eagles only 180 seconds to go in front when Ikechukwu Uche combined with his older brother, Kalu Uche, before a poor clearance by Kenyan defender George Owino let in Ikechukwu Uche to drive the ball past goalkeeper Arnold Origi.

Kenya’s first attempt at goal came after quarter of an hour when Dennis Oliech let fly from distance but goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama saved easily.

Italy-based MacDonald Mariga tested Enyeama with a cleanly struck shot on 26 minutes, and a minute later, Oliech came even closer but his shot from the edge of 18-yard box brushed the crossbar.

Odemwingie would have doubled Nigeria’s lead when he was set up by Ikechukwu Uche, but Origi blocked his powerful shot.

The Russia-based striker wasted an even better chance three minutes later when his effort from top of the box missed target by inches.

Just before the interval, Kenya’s Origi spilled an Ikechukwu cross from the right but Esperance of Tunisia striker Eneramo could not take advantage of this clanger with the ball metres from the goal line.

In the 62nd minute, Kenya got their best chances of the match in quick succession with Oliech involved on both occasions.

First, he chose to square the ball to a teammate with the Nigerian defence on the back foot and seconds later, he again decided to pass the ball inside the box after he had rounded up goalkeeper Enyeama.

That was the wake-up call Nigeria needed to increase their lead 10 minutes later. Substitute Obinna Nsofor put away a penalty after goal-bound Odemwingie was brought down inside the box and Moroccan referee El Achiri Abdellah pointed to the penalty spot.

Four minutes later Nsofor thundered home from inside the box for Nigeria’s third goal. A superb move started by Kanu saw Echejile deliver a cross from the left, Ikechukwu miskicked to allow Nsofor control the ball before firing home.

Kenya lost by the same score line in their last two visits to Nigeria, in 1997 and 2003.

Tags: abuja national stadium, Arnold Origi, better chance, clanger, Dennis Oliech, France, George Owino, goal line, Goalkeeper, inter milan, internationals, Italy, joseph yobo, kenya, LAGOS, mikel john obi, Milan, Mozambique, nigeria, odemwingie, origi, republic of ireland, six points, striker, Taiwo, target, taye taiwo, three minutes, tunis, Tunisia, Vincent, World Cup, world cup qualification

Malouda set for France return against Nigeria

June 2, 2009

ST ETIENNE, France (AFP) – France play Nigeria at St Etienne on Tuesday in a friendly which coach Raymond Domenech hopes will settle the nerves of a recently inconsistent French national side.

Chelsea star Florent Malouda seems set for a return for “Les Bleus” in what would represent a return from the cold for the unpredictable midfielder who has not played for his country since last year when he appeared to criticise Domenech in a newspaper interview.

But Domenech insisted his non-selection was all to do with form and nothing personal.

“At one stage everyone was calling on him to play but I didn’t think he was good enough,” Domenech told L’Equipe newspaper.

“But I am following his career and watching his matches.”

Malouda, who has won 44 caps for France, has regained his form under Guus Hiddink at Chelsea and played a big role in the London club’s 2-1 FA Cup final victory over Everton on the weekend.

Patrick Viera is also expected to once again take the captain’s armband. The Inter Milan midfielder struggled with injury in the recently-ended Italian season, playing just 19 times as Inter marched to the Serie A title.

Fellow stalwart Thierry Henry, however, has been ruled out of the game due to a knee injury sustained last month but which he managed well enough to play in Barcelona’s 2-0 victory over Manchester United in the Champions League final in Rome last week.

After another friendly on June 5 against Turkey at Lyon, France resume their 2010 World Cup campaign on August 19 against the Faroe Islands. The “Bleus” currently lag behind Serbia in Group 7 in the qualifying phase.

The Nigerian squad will see the St Etienne showdown as an opportunity to showcase their skills in the European soccer’s inter-season recruitment period.

Marseille defender Taye Ismaila Taiwo is expected to be a cornerstone for the Super Eagles.

The athletic 24-year-old from Lagos has been the target of offers from English Premiership clubs but stated last month he would stay at Marseille.

Tags: Barcelona, CHELSEA, english premiership clubs, european soccer, faroe islands, final victory, florent malouda, France, french national side, hiddink, inter milan, italian season, l equipe, LAGOS, les bleus, london, london club, Lyon, lyon france, Manchester, Marseille, Milan, nigeria, patrick viera, raymond domenech, recruitment period, ROME, st etienne france, Taiwo, target, thierry henry, Turkey, World Cup, world cup campaign

Marseille close in on French footbal title

May 14, 2009

PARIS (AFP) – Marseille moved a step closer to their first league title in 17 years on Wednesday after goals from Mamadou Niang and Brandao brought a 2-0 win at local rivals Nice to send the southerners three points clear of the pack.

Niang bagged the opener with a fine shot on the turn after 26 minutes before Brazilian Brandao, who has averaged a goal every other game since his arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk mid-season, made the points safe on the hour.

An end to end move saw home keeper Steve Mandanda feed Hatem Ben Arfa, who found Taye Taiwo down the left flank. The Nigerian quickly picked out the lurking Brandao, who nodded in.

Marseille moved onto 71 points from 35 games after their 20th league win of the campaign, but Bordeaux were out to draw level on points with a win in the late match at Valenciennes.

Marseille chairman Pape Diouf was buoyant after a potentially vital win.

“This is a significant victory at one of the toughest places we have had to visit. But we have three still finals to negotiate – I’m banking on Bordeaux winning their last three matches,” Diouf explained.

As the top two chase down the automatic Champions League slots, reigning champions Lyon may have to make do with a shot at the qualifiers.

An eighth straight league title still looks beyond them despite Tuesday’s 3-0 home stroll over relegation-threatened Nantes at the Gerland stadium.

Lyon have 64 points with three games remaining – but the seven-point gap with Marseille now looks too great to close even if the former can win their outstanding tussle with the former European champions.

Jean II Makoun bagged two of Lyon’s goals, following an early header with a neat strike on 35 minutes as Claude Puel’s team rallied following a three-match goalless spell and four-game run without a win.

Anthony Mounier’s header 11 minutes from time completed the one-way traffic.

Paris Saint Germain moved to within a point of Lyon after Mateja Kezman scored Wednesday’s only goal at Le Mans.

Eight-times champions Nantes’ loss at Lyon suggests they will now struggle to beat the dreaded drop with just 33 points from their 35 games – especially as fellow former giants Saint Etienne won 4-2 at relegated Le Havre to move three points clear of the Canaries.

Saint Etienne, the biggest club in France in the mid-1970s when Michel Platini was the swashbuckling mainstay of the team, moved out of the bottom three, two points clear of Caen, who lost 1-0 to a Rennes side still harbouring hopes of clinching a place in the new Europa League.

Le Havre briefly led before succumbing to late efforts from Mirallas and Riviere as the hosts suffered their 25th defeat of the season to confirm their bottom placing.

Following them down will be any two from Caen, Nantes, Sochaux – who beat Monaco 3-0 to go level on 36 points with Saint Etienne, ‘Les Verts’ themselves and Le Mans, still not out of the wood after their home loss to PSG.

Tags: 35 games, Anthony Mounier, Ben Arfa, Bordeaux, brandao, claude puel, european champions, France, gerland, Germain, home keeper, Jean II, Le Havre, left flank, Ligue 1, Lyon, makoun, mamadou niang, Mans, Marseille, mateja kezman, michel platini, mid season, Monaco, mounier, Nantes, Nice, PARIS, paris saint germain, point gap, Rennes, southerners, Steve Mandanda, straight league, Taiwo, traffic paris

Fulham´s Etuhu gets Nigeria recall

April 25, 2009

LAGOS (AFP) – Nigeria have recalled Fulham midfielder Dickson Etuhu for World Cup qualifiers against Kenya and Tunisia in June.

Etuhu, who was snubbed by coach Shuaibu Amodu for last month’s World Cup game against Mozambique, is part of a 29-man squad that will also play two friendlies against Republic Ireland on May 27 in London and France on June 2 in Saint Etienne.

Etuhu last played for Nigeria at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana after he was first capped by the country against Mexico the previous year.

Several uncapped players have also been named in the squad, including Hamburg midfielder Dennis Aogo, Elderson Echiejile (Rennes) and Chibuzo Okonkwo from Nigerian league leaders Bayelsa United.

Nigeria will host Kenya on June 7 in Abuja and a fortnight later travel for a crunch tie against group leaders Tunisia.

Nigeria squad

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama(Hapoel Tel Aviv/ISR), Austin Ejide (Bastia/FRA), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei-Yehuda/ISR)

Defenders: Onyekachi Apam (Nice/FRA), Yusuf Mohammed (FC Sion/SUI), Joseph Yobo (Everton/ENG), Danny Shittu (Bolton/ENG), Obinna Nwaneri (FC Sion/SUI), Taye Taiwo (Marseille/FRA), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow/RUS), Elderson Echiejile (Rennes/FRA), Dele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam/NED), Olubayo Adefemi (SC Rheindorf Altach/AUT), Chibuzo Okonkwo (Bayelsa United)

Midfielders: Dennis Aogo (Hamburg/GER), John Mikel Obi (Chelsea/ENG), Sani Kaita (FC Kuban/RUS), Seyi Olofinjana (Stoke City/ENG), Kalu Uche (Almeria/ESP), Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kiev/UKR), Oluwafemi Ajilore (FC Groningen/NED), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham/ENG)

Tags: Africa, africa cup of nations, Austin, bnei yehuda, CHELSEA, chelsea eng, cska moscow, danny shittu, dennis aogo, Dickson Etuhu, English Premier League, fc groningen, fc sion, France, fulham, GER, groningen, hapoel tel aviv, john mikel obi, joseph yobo, kalu uche, kenya, LAGOS, london, Marseille, mikel obi chelsea, Moscow, NED, Nice, nigeria, ROTTERDAM, saint etienne, sparta rotterdam, Stoke City, Taiwo, taye taiwo, Vincent, vincent enyeama, world cup game, world cup qualifiers, Yusuf Ayila, Yusuf Mohammed

Marseille in French goal rush to top

April 13, 2009

PARIS (AFP) – Marseille moved into pole position in the French league on Sunday with a 4-1 destruction of Grenoble at the Stade Velodrome, though Lyon were later hoping to wrest back the leadership.

Marseille romped to three points with four second-half goals as the former European champions raced onto 61 points from 31 games to overhaul overnight leaders Bordeaux.

Lyon were out to defeat Monaco in the late game which would take the reigning champions a point clear once again.

With Lyon having shown recent bouts of inconsistency, their quest for an eighth straight championship success hangs in the balance and both Lille and Paris Saint Germain, who were also facing off later Sunday, were bidding to keep their own title challenge alive.

Both had 55 points from 30 games going into that encounter.

Marseille, seeking a first league title in 17 years, took things easy in the opening period against a Grenoble side who are still not safe from the drop before Nigerian defender Taye Taiwo grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck for the hosts.

Taiwo fired in from the penalty spot after 52 minutes after Mathieu Valbuena was brought down in the box to sooth increasingly restless fans and for good measure he then hit the third on 64 minutes after Vitorino Hilton had first fired home number two, deflecting a Valbuena effort.

Hatem Ben Arfa and Lorik Cana then combined to set up Brazilian Brandao, who fired home a fizzing effort before Laurent Courtois notched a consolation in stoppage time.

Bordeaux had gone top on Saturday with a 2-0 win at Auxerre achieved with goals from Brazilians Fernando and Geraldo Wendel.

Fernando struck ten minutes before the interval and Wendel added the second in the 80th minute to cheer Laurent Blanc’s Girondins.

Blanc is busy turning his side into true title material and complimented his side for a highly professional showing.

“You’re always happy with a win. We can make still better use of the ball. But when you go away and win 2-0 without suffering too much that is very satisfying and I take my hat off to the players,” said the former Marseille, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Manchester United stopper.

Also Saturday, Toulouse moved provisionally a point clear of PSG and Lille into fourth spot to keep alive their own unlikely bid for glory as an Andre-Pierre Gignac’s 19th goal of the campaign saw off Nantes, who are stuck in the drop zone which Caen exited thanks to a 2-1 success at Le Havre.

Tags: Andre-Pierre Gignac, auxerre, Barcelona, Ben Arfa, Bordeaux, brandao, brazilians, european champions, Fernando, french league, Geraldo, Germain, girondins, Grenoble, laurent blanc, laurent courtois, Le Havre, Ligue 1, Lille, Lyon, Manchester, Marseille, Mathieu Valbuena, Milan, Monaco, Nantes, PARIS, paris saint germain, pole position, psg, restless fans, scruff of the neck, stade velodrome, stoppage time, straight championship, Taiwo, title challenge, Toulouse, true title, valbuena, vitorino hilton

Marseille beat Ajax on aggregate in UEFA Cup

March 19, 2009

PARIS (AFP) – An Englishman came to the rescue of French giants Marseille’s UEFA Cup campaign on Wednesday as the journeyman defender Tyrone Mears scored a goal in extra-time to see them to a 2-2 draw on the night but a 4-3 aggregate success over Dutch side Ajax and a place in the quarter-finals.

Mears, the only Englishman playing in the top flight of French football, headed in in the second-half of extra-time to raise French morale after St Etienne had also foced a 2-2 draw at home to Werder Bremen but they went out 3-2 on aggregate.

The Ajax and Marseille clash got off to a tense start as the stadium announcer had to order a Dutch fan to stop shining a laser in the eyes of former Dutch international Boudewijn Zenden – who played for PSV Eindhoven during his time in the domestic league – which forced the referee to stop the match for around a minute.

Marseille surrendered their overall advantage in the tie when Ajax took the lead on the night and on away goals when Eyong Enoh scored in the 32nd minute after the French side’s defence opened up beautifully for him and he made them pay as he tucked the ball away.

However the former European Cup winners were back on level terms and ahead overall just two minutes later as Baky Kone created a chance for Senegalese international Mamadou Niang, who slipped the ball between the legs of young ‘keeper Kenneth Vermeer to make it 1-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate to Marseille.

It was justice for the club and Niang, who had had an earlier goal disallowed when Kone was adjudged rather harshly to be offside whilst Nigerian international Taye Taiwo had seen a vicious effort turned away for a corner by Vermeer.

The French side lost concentration early in the second-half which nearly cost them in the 53rd minute only for France ‘keeper Steve Mandanda to pull off a miraculous save from Luis Suarez.

However, it was a brilliant piece of individual skill from Suarez that created the second goal as he turned on a sixpence in the box completely outwitting the defender and his cross was headed home by Miralem Sulejmani to force extra-time.

Mears was the unlikely hero as he restored Marseille’s overall hold on the match when he made it 2-2 on the night in time added on of the first period of extra time heading past Vermeer.

Marseille’s First Division rivals St Etienne virtually saw their chances of progressing disappear in the first-half as Werder Bremen took a 2-0 lead through Sebastian Prodl and veteran Claudio Pizarro.

Prodl effectively gave the relegation-threatened former European Cup finalists mission impossible when he headed home in the fifth minute from German international Torsten Frings’s corner.

The hosts rarely threatened the German side’s goal out of form and out of favour French international Bafetimbi Gomis forcing a save from Tim Wiese while exhilarating Brazilian Diego twice made St Etienne ‘keeper Jeremie Janot into good saves as the Germans turned on the style.

Janot, though, was helpless to stop Pizarro scoring his fifth goal in European club football this season as the Peruvian headed home from Mesut Ozil’s cross in the 27th minute.

St Etienne, though, did give themselves an outside chance of pulling off a miracle when Yohan Benalouane scored in the 64th minute after Frings had conceded a freekick and he headed home past Wiese.

The hosts at least saved face when they made it 2-2 on the night just before the final whistle as Sebastien Grax beat the Bremen goalkeeper with a shot from the right hand side of the box.

Among Thursday’s matches holders Zenit St Petersburg could go out as they trail the only Italian side left in European competition Udinese 2-0, while former Cup Winners Cup winners Paris Saint Germain are away at Sporting Braga after a goalless draw in Paris.

Written by: AFP

Tags: 53rd, Ajax, boudewijn zenden, Braga, Bremen, brilliant piece, Claudio Pizarro, cup campaign, Diego, dutch fan, dutch international, dutch side, Eindhoven, european cup winners, France, french football, french side, Germain, Kenneth Vermeer, luis suarez, mamadou niang, Marseille, mears, offside, PARIS, Petersburg, Sebastian Prodl, Sebastien Grax, senegalese, sixpence, st etienne, stadium announcer, Steve Mandanda, Taiwo, taye taiwo, Tim Wiese, torsten frings, Tyrone Mears, UEFA Cup, werder bremen

Ten-man Lyon hold nerve to sink Marseille in Cup

January 28, 2009

PARIS (AFP) – Lyon took another step towards a successful defence of their French Cup crown with a narrow 1-0 home victory over rivals Marseille on Wednesday that took them into the round of 16.

The reigning French champions will face fellow top-flight side Lille in the next round, with the tie set to take place on the weekend of March 3-4.

Claude Puel’s side enjoyed a perfect start to the tie at their Stade Gerland home thanks to some calamitous play from visiting defender Ronald Zubar.

With less than two minutes on the clock the Marseille centre-half’s attempted pass was cut out on the edge of the penalty area by Lyon’s Argentine midfielder Cesar Delgado, who squared for top-scorer Karim Benzema to tuck home unchallenged from close range.

Zubar almost made amends minutes later when he met Karim Ziani’s corner with a firm header that drifted narrowly over Hugo Lloris’s crossbar.

Marseille were then dealt a further blow when their Ivory Coast striker Bakary Kone had to be stretchered off after being kneed in the head in an accidental collision with Lloris.

Benzema came inches away from extending Lyon’s lead in the opening exchanges of the second period when his sweet left-footed effort struck the outside of Steve Mandana’s right-hand post before bouncing to safety.

Marseille were toiling, but the momentum swung in their favour shortly after the hour mark when Lyon’s Kader Keita was shown a second yellow card for flinging a hand in the face of Marseille’s Brazilian forward Brandao.

Lyon captain Juninho almost made the game safe when he crashed a free-kick against Mandana’s crossbar with 10 minutes to play, as the hosts continued to threaten on the counter-attack.

But Marseille finally began to make their man advantage count in the game’s final stages, with Nigerian full-back Taye Taiwo twice testing Lloris with trademark strikes from distance.

The visitors then spurned a superb chance to equalise deep into injury time when Lloris sprang from his line alertly to deny substitute Sylvain Wiltord after he had been teed up by Brandao.

Written by: AFP

Tags: Argentine, bakary kone, brandao, captain Juninho, Cesar Delgado, claude puel, close range, crossbar, free kick, french cup, home thanks, home victory, Hugo Lloris, injury time, Ivory Coast, juninho, kader keita, Karim Benzema, karim ziani, Ligue 1, Lille, Lyon, man advantage, mandana, Marseille, PARIS, ronald zubar, stade gerland, Steve Mandana, Taiwo, top scorer, yellow card

Le Guen takes Cup revenge, Marseille squeeze through

January 5, 2009

PARIS (AFP) – Paris Saint Germain coach Paul Le Guen finally took revenge on his French Cup jinx club in their 1-0 victory at Montlucon on Sunday.

Le Guen, who played for PSG during their golden days of the 1990s, was twice beaten at amateur club Montlucon, in 1997 with PSG as a player and then in 2005 with Lyon as coach.

Meanwhile, Marseille, a record 10-time French Cup champions, survived a major scare to go through at the expense of fourth division Besancon who had been just eight minutes from a famous victory.

But Marseille, who lost to minnows Carquefou in the round of 16 last season, levelled from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute before squeezing into the next round on a penalty shootout and a possible clash with league leaders Lyon.

Le Guen savoured the moment of finally settling the scores.

"It did me a lot of good to win here after defeats with PSG in 1997, then with Lyon in 2005, both times on penalties," Le Guen said. "It was very painful."

Stephane Sessegnon’s second-half goal propelled PSG into the last 32 to the satisfaction of coach Le Guen.

"It was a good victory," added the coach.

"We did what we needed to do. Even though we only won 1-0, I feel we played a good match. I hope we can continue in the same vein and we are still on course in four competitions."

Sessegnon’s goal came in the 52nd minute after PSG had upped the pressure following the break. He was unmarked when he fired home at the far post with his right foot following a Jerome Rothen corner.

Eric Gerets’ Marseille went behind in the 67th minute through an own goal by Ronald Zubar as he attempted to clear the ball from danger as Besancon striker Yohann Rangdet closed in.

Romain Hamouma might have got a second for Besancon as he only had Marseille keeper Steve Mandanda to beat, but defender Taye Taiwo managed to clear.

Taiwo then converted an 82nd minute penalty to send the tie into extra-time before Marseille clinched the shootout 5-4 and a last 32 tie against either defending champions Lyon or Concarneau.

Saint Etienne ended their three-year losing French Cup record on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Bordeaux to reach the last 32 and keep coach Alain Perrin on course for an unprecedented Cup treble.

Bafetimbi Gomis grabbed the winner in the 76th minute on a treacherous and slippy surface at Bordeaux’s Jacques-Chaban-Delmas stadium.

Perrin coached Sochaux to the 2007 French Cup title and repeated the success with Lyon last season.

Two first division clubs exited the competition this weekend — Nancy losing to fourth division Romorantin on penalties and Auxerre falling to Ajaccio also after a shootout.

Written by: AFP

Tags: AFP, Ajaccio, Alain Perrin, amateur club, Besancon, Bordeaux, carquefou, coach, coach paul, concarneau, cup champions, defending champ, eric gerets, far post, French, french cup, Germain, Jacques-Chaban-, jerome rothen, league leaders, Ligue 1, Lyon, Marseille, montlucon, Nancy, PARIS, paris saint germain, Paul Le, paul le guen, penalty shootout, player, psg, Romain Hamouma, ronald zubar, stephane sessegnon, Steve Mandanda, Taiwo, taye, Yohann

Calendar

January 2010
M	T	W	T	F	S	S
« Dec
	1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26	27	28	29	30	31

Related Sites

AFP
e-soccertips
Free Themes All - Blogger, Wordpress, Joomla themes
Soccer Results
soccerway
WAGS
WAGS Blog

Marseille start lucky, but end with romp over Zurich

Related posts

Nigeria call up injured Mikel Obi for crucial qualifier

Related posts

Nigeria defeat Kenya to revive World Cup hopes

Related posts

Malouda set for France return against Nigeria

Related posts

Marseille close in on French footbal title

Related posts

Fulham´s Etuhu gets Nigeria recall

Related posts

Marseille in French goal rush to top

Related posts

Marseille beat Ajax on aggregate in UEFA Cup

Related posts

Ten-man Lyon hold nerve to sink Marseille in Cup

Related posts

Le Guen takes Cup revenge, Marseille squeeze through

Related posts

Calendar

Related Sites

Categories