For the fourth consecutive year, OM have left Bordeaux with undefeated but with regrets. Right now, they are even greater than the satisfaction of having stood up to the Girondins with a man less. The point is well taken. They will have to digest it in order to realize. But the two that are missing will be stuck in their throats for a while.
The frustration comes from the penalty which should have been given for a foul on Andre Ayew in the first half (our picture above), but most of all the severe sending off of Edouard Cisse for an illegal but safe tackle on Plasil, the midfielder watched the rest of the match from the stands. His team-mates played the final hour of the game with ten men.
Without messing everything up, the red card hindered a Marseille side that had hitherto dominated the encounter and had opened the scoring almost naturally. Played in by a busy Remy, Brandao had escaped down the right before sending a cross, which was deflected, to Lucho who fired in a close range effort with cool and calm (0-1, 12’).
Carrasso could do nothing about it. He would make up for it later on. Initiating a surprising number with a reflex save form Taiwo free kick (24’).
Without it, Bordeaux would probably have been permanently out of a game that was eluding them all over the park, especially in the centre, where Savic was having a tough time in his duel with Brandao.

Bordeaux can thank Carrasso

How then to respond to the unexpected loss of the sentinel Cisse? By playing defensively? Deschamps had the nerve to keep his three attackers on the pitch. At the same time to prevent his team from being cornered, in their defensive work, but also to exploit counter attacking situations with the percussion of Ayew and speed of Remy.
For a long time it seemed that this strategy, combined with the solidarity of all, would lead the team to success. The determination of the pair Heinze-Hilton, and two saves from Mandanda cleared the road.
Tigana had to accept what was happening, even though many of the crosses from Trémoulinas and Chalme were more impotent, than a real danger. Each cross was immediately cleared.
In contrast, OM favored quality over quantity forcing Carrasso into performing small miracles from a header by Ayew (60’) and then rocket of a shot from Rémy that he deflected onto the post (78’).
Out of breath and ideas, Bordeaux finished up by equalising. Kept out of the game for 87 minutes, Modeste stepped up to deprive OM of their win in the 88^th minute of play, getting in front of Azpilicueta with a header. Coveted, deserved the victory was gone. It had never been closer. We don’t want to talk about a curse, but it really seems that there is matter to consider on the subject.