Marseille fight back to beat Lorient | OneFootball

Olympique de Marseille further consolidated their position in the Champions League qualifying places as Igor Tudor’s side roared back to beat FC Lorient 3-1 at a packed Orange Vélodrome on Saturday.

Olympique de Marseille 3-1 FC Lorient

THE MATCH

Marseille were looking to continue their excellent start to 2023 and they began strongly as Lorient goalkeeper Vito Mannone was forced into a fine save from a Cengiz Ünder header inside six minutes. Yet the visitors weathered the early storm and went on to take the lead just before the half-hour mark as the prolific Terem Moffi finished in emphatic fashion at a corner for his 12th Ligue 1 Uber Eats goal of the season (29’).

However, OM deserve great credit for the way in which they fought back. They were level in the 38th minute when Ünder crossed from the right for Sead Kolasinac – filling in for the suspended Nuno Tavares – to head in his third goal of the campaign. They might then have been ahead by the break as Samuel Gigot hit the bar when it seemed easier to score (42’) before Jordan Veretout’s vicious strike was tipped over by Mannone (45’).

Again they came flying out of the traps after the restart and they were rewarded as they went ahead eight minutes into the second half. A Kolasinac ball into the middle from the left came to Alexis Sánchez and he took a touch before turning and firing into the net off the post. It was his ninth goal of the season.

Marseille then made sure of the points with the hour mark approaching as Veretout scored for the second time in four days, his shot finding the net via a crucial deflection off Gédéon Kalulu (59’).

THE PLAYER: Alexis Sánchez

Sánchez mentioned after the game how difficult his role in this Marseille side is, and how much he has to make sacrifices for the team. His work-rate is enormous as, with his back to goal, the Chilean looks to bring others into the game. But he was back among the goals here. Marseille’s leading scorer had found the net just once in his last nine Ligue 1 appearances but he is now on to nine in all competitions for the campaign.

THE STAT: 6

This was Marseille’s sixth consecutive Ligue 1 win, their best run in the top flight since late 2020. They have won seven on the bounce in all competitions including the Coupe de France.

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