Courtesy of hard fought 3-1 extra-time victory over Le Havre at the Stade Vélodrome, Olympique de Marseille advanced to the round of sixteen of the Coupe de France to face minnows Bourg-Péronnas.

Le Havre, trapped in the mid-table of Ligue 2, entered the contest with hopes of an upset and within six minutes shocked the Marseillais as Ryan Mendes out-raced Stéphane Mbia for a long ball on the right before drilling the ball past l’OM goalkeeper Steve Mandanda. The perfect start for the Normandy side narrowly missed being undone but efforts from Loïc Rémy and Alou Diarra were halted by ‘keeper Johnny Placide and the visitors took the one-goal advantage to the break.

Play continued to be tight until Didier Deschamps men notched the leveller four minutes past the hour as Morgan Amalfitano surged on the right before delivering a long cross to the back post that Brandão out leapt the ‘keeper to nod into the net. With the match square Le Havre dug its boots in but squandered two quality chances, first with Steve Mandanda denying Ryan Mendes and then with five minutes in regulation time remaining Alexandre Bonnet sending an effort wide from close range despite a wide open goal beckoning.

Extra time proved to be the visitors undoing as fifteen minutes in Morgan Amalfitano drilled a booming effort from twenty-five metres to the top left corner of the net past the stranded ‘keeper. Still Le Havre kept up pace to equalizer and after seeing Steve Mandanda once again rise to the occasion, Johnny Placide race forward for a last gasp corner. The Haitian ‘keeper did well to head the ball but after being blocked Mathieu Valbuena led a long counter on the left led before crossing to Loïc Rémy in the box. Turning on a defended with Johnny Placide racing back into position the talented twenty-fire year old attacker sent the ball to the bottom left corner to seal Olympique de Marseille’s 3-1 victory.

Prepared by John Davies
©Europa League News, 2011
All rights reserved