PLAYER RATINGS | Lyon 1-2 Marseille: Malo Gusto own goal decides Olympico | OneFootball

A high-stakes Olympico in Lyon was decided with the last kick of the game on Sunday night, as an unfortunate own goal from the returning Malo Gusto saw Marseille take all three points in dramatic fashion.

The hosts were unable to make the most of their high-octane start to the match, with their high pressing forcing Marseille into an error-strewn opening 20 minutes. Igor Tudor’s men would eventually find their feet, and saw two chances in the Lyon penalty area scrambled away – Castello Lukeba’s last-ditch tackles keeping the visitors at bay.

The end-to-end nature of the first half was encapsulated by a clash at full speed between Nicolás Tagliafico and Issa Kaboré – puzzlingly, both were allowed to play on, despite the latter in particular ostensibly briefly knocked out by the collision. Marseille would break the deadlock shortly afterwards, with Alexis Sánchez released for a one-on-one that Anthony Lopes was able to parry away – but only into the path of Cengiz Ünder, who duly converted.

OM would emerge as the dominant side at the start of the second half, but would see all of their chances go awry – from Jonathan Clauss’ missed cross for Malinovskyi, to Anthony Lopes’ imperious saves. Inevitably, Marseille would go on to rue those missed chances, as Corentin Tolisso would find Alexandre Lacazette at the back post for the former Arsenal man to poke in his 20th league goal of the season.

Just as Lyon were pushing for the winner – Jeffinho would come agonisingly close with a curling effort – Sánchez would lead forward a last-minute Marseille chance. The Chilean would find Kaboré out wide, whose cross would first be deflected by Tagliafico, and then turned into his own net by Gusto, who had come on for his first appearance since his injury lay-off in London. The final whistle would come in the midst of the celebrations – led by an uncharacteristically jovial Igor Tudor – as Marseille secured their first win in Lyon since 2007, and more importantly took a giant leap towards Champions League football next season.

Lyon player ratings:

Anthony Lopes, 7 – Lyon’s best performer – some decisive saves at the start of the second half to keep Lyon in the game, before Lacazette’s goal. Despite his efforts to galvanise his defence, it would be a last-minute error that decided the win.

Sinaly Diomandé, 6

Dejan Lovren, 5

Castello Lukeba, 7 – Some impressive interceptions in the first half, including a cool backheel, but also some last-ditch tackles. An imperious performance, and there was little he could do for either of the Marseille goals.

Nicolás Tagliafico, 5

Thiago Mendes, 5

Corentin Tolisso, 4

Maxence Caqueret, 4

Bradley Barcola, 6 – An emphatic return from suspension for the young forward, who was constantly able to beat his man with some silky dribbling and continued to combine effortlessly with Alexandre Lacazette.

Alexandre Lacazette, 7

Rayan Cherki, 5

Marseille player ratings:

Pau López, 6

Samuel Gigot, 5

Leonardo Balerdi, 5

Sead Kolašinac, 6

Issa Kaboré, 6

Jordan Veretout, 5

Valentin Rongier, 5

Jonathan Clauss, 4 – The wing-back found himself in some promising attacking positions, but was let down by his decision-making, notably in failing to find Ruslan Malinovskyi with a squared ball in a two-on-one situation. It was nevertheless his presence in the penalty area that triggered the confusion among the Lyon defenders that led to the winning own-goal.

Cengiz Ünder, 6

Alexis Sánchez, 7 – The Chilean’s unwavering commitment created the opening goal, and was instrumental in setting up the winner. The latter move encapsulated what he brings to the Marseille team – he took over the counter from Vitinha, almost as if to tell to Portuguese striker to step aside, and found Kaboré out wide for the decisive cross. OM simply cannot let him go this summer.

Ruslan Malinovskyi, 5

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin