Florian Thauvin netted two late goals as Olympique de Marseille won 5-2 at Toulouse in a pulsating Week 37 encounter.
Toulouse FC 2-5 Olympique de Marseille
THE MATCH
It was open and entertaining from the off, a real box-to-box match, and Toulouse began brightly, having attempts through Max-Alain Gradel (11') and Aaron Leya Iseka (14'). Alain Casanova's side took a deserved lead (26') when Leya Iseka - who failed to score in a season at Marseille in 2016-2017 - turned in Gradel's low cross.
Leya Iseka hit the underside of the bar (28') before OM equalised (29') with a gaol that owed plenty to good fortune. Luiz Gustavo's cross deflected off Thauvin's back to Morgan Sanson and the midfielder's volley flew in off the thigh of defender Gen Shoji.
OM took the lead (50') through Hiroki Sakai's maiden Ligue 1 Conforama goal at the end of his third season at the club. The Japanese full-back struck an excellent left-footed shot after Lucas Ocampos' knockdown. Gradel (54') was denied by Steve Mandanda's legs but on 61 minutes the Ivorian drew TFC level, getting away a quick shot that surprised the OM goalkeeper.
Lacking the injured Mario Balotelli, OM turned to Clinton Njie for inspiration. The Cameroonian substitute touched home an excellent Sakai cross from the right (76') and then came the Thauvin show. Njie's cross from the left (90') looked to have gone in off defender Christopher Jullien but the goal was credited to the French attacker. There could be no doubt about OM's fifth as Thauvin crashed in a superb right-footed shot.
Toulouse are mathematically safe from relegation thanks to Caen falling at Lyon, while OM will finish off a disappointing season at home to Montpellier on Friday, with a chance of finishing fifth in the table.
THE PLAYER: Florian Thauvin
The World Cup winner was desperate to get on the scoresheet in a game that was one for the attackers. After getting increasingly frustrated Thauvin eventually got the goals he was after. Credited with two - as many as he'd managed in 2019 prior to this game - he is now on 15 league goals for the season.
THE STAT: 12
Toulouse have won none of their last 12 home games against OM, a run stretching back to February 2007. It equals TFC's longest winless run against a top division club (v Montpellier between May 1989 and April 2012).
