Marseille registered a first win in eight Ligue 1 Uber Eats games as Saif-Eddine Khaoui scored twice to help them to a 3-2 win over Nice in Wednesday's rearranged top-flight encounter.
THE MATCH
Luis Henrique's low drive that forced Walter Benitez into an early save (3') set the tone at the Stade Vélodrome where OM had lost their previous three top-flight matches. Benitez then turned a Khaoui shot behind (10') before seeing Alvaro Gonzalez smash a first-time shot past him for the opening goal after a Dimitri Payet cross had ricocheted into the Spanish centre-back's path off Nice midfielder Pierre Lees-Melou (14').
Khaoui then ensured the hosts had a half-time lead when he drilled in from Luis Henrique's cut back after the Brazilian winger had been brilliantly released down the left flank by Payet's backheel flick (42').
Nice had lost their last two away games in Ligue 1, but had delivered improved displays in recent games, and within two minutes of the restart, they were back in the game. Rony Lopes and Hicham Boudaoui combined down the right and the latter's cross was met by Amine Gouiri at the near post — the summer signing from Lyon deftly turned a first-time effort past Steve Mandanda (47').
Adrien Ursea's men were soon two goals down again though as the absences of winter signings William Saliba and Jean-Clair Todibo, who were ineligible as they were not at the club when the match was initially scheduled in Round 11, were keenly felt. When another Payet cross was not dealt with, Khaoui fired low through a crowd and past an unsighted Benitez (54'). Gouiri should have pulled one back when Payet gave the ball away in his own final third but fired wide (60'), though the Nice winger did his utmost to salvage a point in the remaining half-hour.
It was his cross that was fired first-time past Mandanda at the near post by young substitute Malik Sellouki (87') and Gouiri then sent a brilliant free-kick arcing goalwards with virtually the last kick of the game. The ball struck a post, and ricocheted into Mandanda — the OM goalkeeper was fortunate not to see it rebound over the line as Marseille clung on for a welcome win, the first of Nasser Larguet's tenure as interim coach, to move into sixth place in the table.
THE PLAYER: Saif-Eddine Khaoui
The childhood Marseille fan was often used at left-back by Andre Villas-Boas. Positioned higher up the pitch by Larguet, he has been able to exploit his natural attacking talents. He took his goals confidently in what was his first top-flight start for OM since 2016 and only his second ever with the club.
THE STAT: 58
Marseille have conceded at least one goal in each of their last 14 Ligue 1 Uber Eats matches. It's their worst run in 58 years since they endured such a 14-game run between May 1959 and February 1963.
