Scoring after only 3 minutes through an Ndaw lob from more than 25 metres, Sochaux opened the doors to there succes at Marseille. And these doors would not close, despite OM’s reaction in the last 15 minutes of the first half and their territorial domination in the second, with chances for Cissé, Grandin and a shot which hit the post from M’Bami.
Invincible for 9 matches in the league, Marseille saw their run come to an end on Saturday night and Nancy’s (3e) lead stretch to 6 points. OM keep, nevertheless, their 4th place.

Chasing the score is not easy, especially when the race lasts close on 90 minutes. And when the oppponent has come to play counter attacks, leaving about as much space as on the Metro during rush hour.
On Wednesday in Nantes, OM already had to chase the game and came up against a defensive wall, but that was against a team from a much lower division. Sochaux adopted, pretty much, the same strategy. A quick goal which surprised OM and put out the fire they had built up. One or two more attacks which petered out and then up came the curtain. An iron curtain with barbed wire and everything.
Eric Gerets said in his post match comments that he wasn’t angry after his players. « They were hungry. They fought well », he noted. « We gave everything we had », agrees Pape Diouf.
Effectively, after initially letting their heads drop, Lorik Cana and his teammates gave their all. Coming very close to equalising through Kaboré who header at goal a cross from Valbuena (42nd). Unfortunately, this chance was the last one offered up by the midfielder. Victim of a muscle strain in his groin, he had to leave his place to Akalé, and forget about his first call-up to the National team.
« Bad luck », says Eric Gerets, which stuck with the team after the break. While they enjoyed complete territorial domination, they were unable to finish off their chances and equalise.
In no particular order we remember: a Cissé shot fired in from the penalty spot after a corner that went over the bar ; an outstretched shot from Grandin (who had come on for Kaboré, to try and put more pressure on Richert’s goal), but which was too soft to trouble the keeper  ; a header from Cissé. But the major regret and image of the game will be M’Bami’s shot which hit the post. But it’s been like that for the last ten days for OM. « There is disappointment of course after such a defeat. Not from the content of the game but the result. The winds are against us at the moment  », says Pape Diouf. « We have to face up to the situation. But I’m still confident that we can achieve our objectives  ».

Laurent Oreggia
Photos : Yannick Parienti