Despite a strong second half reaction, Marseille paid the price for their first half performance and the two goals they conceded in it…
AUXERRE 2-0 OM
2-0 Niculae (25’)
Disappointment where we were looking for confirmation. OM couldn’t follow up their great Champions League debut. Just like after the victory over Caen followed by the draw at the Parc des Princes, Marseille suffered something of a hangover…
After a making a slow start, and conceding two early goals, the team found themselves facing an uphill battle. Is all lost? The team showed with their second half reaction, that that is far from being the case: more aggressive, more shots, and in the end, a very close match. But unfortunately, and above all, a score-line that remained unchanged.
In fact the difference between the two sides was established very quickly. Niculae opened the scoring from a Pedretti pass in the 19th minute (1-0) and the Romanian then doubled the mark six minutes later, latching onto the end of a Lejeune cross (2-0). Two chances converted, but several others involving Maoulida which were stopped in extremis.
Under the circumstances, Faty’s effort off the crossbar, after Givet had sent the original corner back across the face of goal, could have been interpreted as the start of a possible comeback.
Already two goals down at the break, and without Samir Nasri (sick) and Julien Rodriguez (suspended) Marseille fought back after the restart. But it didn’t translate into goals, even though Auxerre finished the match with ten men after Lejeune was sent off in the 78th minute and OM had a penalty refused after the referee adjudged (incorrectly) that Bonnart was brought down just outside the area. When it rains… it pours…
88'
78'
75'
19'
,
25'
78'
