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1st Team

OM - Apollon (1-3) | Olympiens bow out of Europe

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OM.net
On Thursday 13 December 2018 at 07:47

Olympique de Marseille bowed out of the UEFA Europa League with a 1-3 defeat at home to Apollon Limassol in the sixth and final match day.

OM had enjoyed an extended break after the postponed trip to Saint-Etienne, and given that qualification had already been settled, the hosts were to play for the honour. Florian Escales was given his first team debut in place of Steve Mandanda.

It all went awry in the first six minutes when Boubacar Kamara conceded a penalty and was subsequently sent off. Up stepped Maglica to put the visitors in front.

It lasted for all of 3 minutes however as Florian Thauvin headed sweetly from Maxime Lopez’s cross to restore parity, despite the numerical disadvantage.

And that told as OM struggled with 10 v 11. Limassol broke deftly on the counter, resulting in Maglica heading in his second just before the break.

It was 1-3 in the second half when Stylianou struck a well-hit half-volley that Escales had no chance of matching. OM pushed, but to no avail in the latter stages of the match as the team ultimately bowed out of continental football for 2018-19.

As one cup door closes, another opens. The Coupe de la Ligue resumes next Wednesday with Strasbourg the visitors to the Orange Velodrome.

As a reminder, the week 18 clash between OM and Bordeaux this weekend is postponed.