Marseille make their move as rivals falter
Saturday, November 1, 2008
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Olympique de Marseille moved within a point of Ligue 1 pacesetters Olympique Lyonnais with a 3-1 victory at home to AS Saint-Etienne, climbing above FC Girondins de Bordeaux and Toulouse FC, who both lost.
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Ben Arfa show
Facing a make-or-break UEFA Champions League meeting with PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday, Erik Gerets's men boosted morale by collecting their first league win in three games. Benoît Cheyrou headed in for the hosts from Hatem Ben Arfa's corner after 21 minutes, but celebrations proved shortlived at the Stade Vélodrome as French international Bafétimbi Gomis pounced on lax defending to restore parity a minute later. Marseille retook the lead just 17 minutes after that, though, with Ben Arfa converting from the spot after Les Verts goalkeeper Jérémie Janot had felled Bakari Koné, and left-back Taye Taiwo made sure of the outcome by powering in another Ben Arfa corner with 19 minutes remaining.
Pursuers defeated
While defeat dropped St. Etienne down to 17th, their conquerors now lie a point behind Lyon, who entertain Le Mans UC 72 on Sunday. Fellow pursuers Bordeaux and Toulouse were unable to apply similar pressure, with Laurent Blanc's Bordeaux spurning the chance to go first on goal difference when they succumbed 1-0 at AS Nancy-Lorraine. Youssouf Hadji thundered in the only goal of the match with 70 minutes gone, and there was more bad news for the visitors when goalkeeper Ulrich Ramé had to leave the pitch with a recurrence of his troublesome groin injury after 22 minutes. Toulouse, who could also have moved on to the same points total as Lyon, suffered their first home reverse of the season, 1-0 against SM Caen.
PSG setback
Further down the standings in tenth, Paris Saint-Germain FC tasted defeat for the second successive time since overcoming fierce rivals Marseille last weekend, losing 1-0 at OGC Nice. LOSC Lille Métropole returned to winning ways, in contrast, as they ended a string of three draws by overcoming FC Nantes 2-0, while AJ Auxerre could only manage a goalless stalemate with 18th-placed Valenciennes FC and FC Lorient drew 1-1 with Grenoble Foot 38. In tomorrow's other games, Le Havre AC host AS Monaco FC and FC Sochaux-Montbéliard travel to Stade Rennais FC.