It is most likely with a bitter taste in their mouths that the Marseille squad went home after the draw with Toulouse on Saturday (1-1). Alain Casanova and his men will, for their part, voyaged back to the Garonne region with the feeling of a job well done. Disrupted by the sending off of their keeper in the 8th minute of play, they succeeded thanks to their enterprising play, a fantastic free-kick from the international Sissoko and by defending very deep – and very well – for the remainder of the game.
OM can feel bad about the numerous chances thatthey created and the loss of Lucho to injury. «We weren’t rewarded» stated Didier Deschamps sadly in the corridors of the Vélodrome. We can understand him. His men had chased the mtch for over an hour mixing engagement, determination and, sometimes, precipitation.
Happily enough Brandao’s goal fifteen minutes from the end got them back into the match, for a result that is certainly not a satisfaction, as José Anigo said after the match: «We clawed back a draw that doesn’t suit us at all». This shows the frustration in the Marseille camp.
Frustrating like the scenario of the first half, when OM were passing the ball around well and their numerical superiority came around very early in the match. At the moment when the TFC keeper Pelé brought down Niang with a horrendous tackle at the edge of the area. A straight red card, but the free-kick taken by Lucho went over (9’). This was symptomatic of what would follow, while Blondel took his place in the Toulouse goal. And he would put on a show. If OM had trouble taking advantage of their – numerous – chances in the match, Toulouse were ferociously efficient.
OM controled the majority of the first half, using the wings and an in-form Bocaly to great use. But, TFC are masters of the counter attack, a break forward by Gignac which was stopped by Mandanda should have been a warning (23’). And from a well placed free-kick, Sissoko took full advantage and fired in a long range missile into the OM net (0-1, 28’). Tough and costly.
Especially as they now were up against a side reknowned for their ability to protect their goal and whose defensive sector contains guys big enough to do the NBA proud?
In any case the OM players put their hearts into the effort. A good header from Niang followed by a volley from Lucho which was stopped by the talented Blondel (39’), already in brilliant form against OM in the friendly match this summer. And as Marseille pushed on towards the end of the half, a flick on from Niang was just off target (42’) and a left footed effort from Valbuena pushed away by Blondel (45’). Unlucky.
After the break and the entry of Ben Arfa in place of Abriel towards the end of the half, OM continued on their route. In other words looking for a gap in the Toulouse defence. An acrobatic overhead kick from Valbuena (49’) or the great header from Hilton (68’) were still not sufficient to beat the keeper. Brandao managed to do just that, even though he wasn’t in the best possible position. But his volley on the run after a cross from Koné flew home (1-1, 75’). A little too late perhaps, even if Gignac save don the line with his stomach from Niang (78e) and Blondel was once again exemplary following a header from Brandao (88’). One thing is for sure, OM can have great regrets as there was room to do much better.  

Highlights