Mears uncomfortable in Marseille saviour role

Tyrone Mears refused to take too much credit for scoring the "easy goal" that earned Olympique de Marseille a UEFA Cup quarter-final place, with the English-born Jamaican international deciding the match at AFC Ajax in extra time.

Simple finish
With the two sides having traded 2-1 home wins, Wednesday's Round of 16 decider went into added time. Marseille edged ahead on aggregate in Amsterdam in the 110th minute after Boudewijn Zenden's free-kick was headed on by Mamadou Samassa and then Taye Taiwo before 26-year-old right-back Mears forced the ball home from close range.

'Mental strength'
The on-loan Derby County FC player refused to be billed as his side's "saviour" after what he regarded as a simple enough finish, adding: "I'm happy for the team. It was a tough game. We did not play that well but showed our mental strength and commitment. We proved we could come back after Ajax's second goal of the night."

Injury cover
The former Manchester City FC trainee has played for Preston North End FC, West Ham United FC and Derby but joined Marseille on a season-long last summer after the Rams were relegated from the Premier League. He has played only three first-team games to date, including two since regular right-back Laurent Bonnart sustained a groin injury.

Waiting game
"When I joined, I knew that Lolo [Laurent Bonnart] was the first-choice player in this position, but I also knew that I would have a chance at one time or another," Mears said. "I have never considered myself as a reserve player. I know that I can bring something to the team even if it's only because of Laurent's injury that I got my chance."

English omen
Now Mears will hope to emulate countrymen Trevor Steven and Chris Waddle, who both became big stars at the Stade Vélodrome in the early 1990s, if he is given another starting place in Erik Gerets's side's upcoming Ligue 1 game against FC Nantes. Marseille have not won a French title since 1991/92, when both Englishmen were in the squad.

Van Basten optimistic
Ajax, meanwhile, must now scrap for a European place in the Eredivisie but coach Marco van Basten was thinking positive. "Since we got knocked out, I have to be unhappy but our play often was good," he said. "We created a lot of chances against a top side but unfortunately lacked the luck to score a few more. The way we played tonight gives us hope for the next phase of the season."