Saturday, December 12, 2009

  Olympique de Marseille / Boulogne Côte d'Opale : 2 - 0

Boulogne had picked up their first win since the third game of the season in beating northern neighbours Lens last time out, and a stoic first-half display promised to give them a much-needed point against their lacklustre hosts.

OM have dropped ten points this season on their return to domestic duty following the welcome distraction of the Champions League, and the after-effects of their 3-1 midweek defeat to Real Madrid, which saw them eliminated from the competition, were all too clear in a sluggish opening half.

The visitors' back four - the leakiest in Ligue 1 - were made to look distinctly more solid by the hosts, who will be hoping top scorer Mamadou Niang will make a quicker-than-expected recovery from the shoulder injury that is expected to sideline him for the next six weeks.

Territorial domination

Half-chances at best were all OM could muster with Jean-François Bedenik barely tested, though the Boulogne keeper did have to dirty his gloves to keep out an early Benoît Cheyrou drive.

Despite dominating territorially, however, Marseille had to wait until three minutes into the second half to finally break through.

Yoann Lachor needlessly conceded a corner, and Cheyrou's delivery was tailor-made for Heinze, whose near-post header was too good for Bedenik.

Ben Arfa cameo

The relief of both the team and the Stade Vélodrome crowd was tangible, and they were able to really enjoy their evening when the advantage was doubled just six minutes later.

Lucho Gonzalez's penetrating burst was halted by Lachor's clumsy challenge in the box - Taiwo struck the resulting spot-kick with unerring accuracy and awesome power to leave Bedenik with no chance.

With his side comfortable, Deschamps threw Hatem ben Arfa into the fray just before the hour mark, and the substitute tormented the visitors.

The twinkle-toed French international's contribution proved too much for Boulogne defender Olubayo Adefemi, who threw himself into a reckless two-footed challenge on Ben Arfa that earned him a straight red card two minutes from time.

>> Team Sheet