Marseille ran out 3-0 winners with goals from Niang and one from Kone as PSV rue missed chances.
Niang double helps defeat Dutch champions
Marseille ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at the Stade Velodrome with two goals from Mamadou Niang and one from Bakari Kone as PSV Eindhoven were left to rue missed chances.
Sceptics had labelled this Group D clash as the battle for third place and ultimately a Uefa Cup place and that message seemed to have spread to the Marseille fans.
Empty seats dominated the Stade Velodrome but that was mainly down to the appalling weather conditions as the wind and rain made for tricky playing conditions.
Eric Gerets, the Marseille manager, faced his old side for the second time in two weeks after the first meeting ended in a 2-0 victory for the Dutch side.
Marseille knew they needed to win to keep their Champions League dream alive while PSV knew that three points would guarantee them Uefa Cup football at least.
The game started slowly with PSV looking to catch the home side on the break and they should have opened the scoring on 13 minutes when Ibrahim Afellay darted down the left and crossed for Danny Koevermans who shot wide from two yards.
It was the home side who broke the deadlock on 29 minutes when a delightful through ball from Hatem Ben Arfa found Kone who rounded Andreas Isaksson in the PSV goal and managed to dink his finish over the sliding Eric Addo.
PSV went in search of an equaliser and nearly found one in the 38th minute when a Edison Mendez cross from the right was met by Otman Bakkal but his free-header cannoned off the outside of the right-hand post.
The second half began with both teams giving possession away cheaply but PSV came close to getting back on level terms on 49 minutes.
Afellay again burst down the left and crossed low with the outside of his right boot but Steve Mandanda in the Marseille goal tipped the ball away from Koevermans.
Marseille replied and could have doubled their lead on 58 minutes when Taye Ismalia Taiwo surged forward from left-back and pulled the ball back to Ben Arfa but he screwed his shot wide.
The hosts did manage to extend their lead just five minutes later though when Ben Arfa found Kone down the right hand side and his cross was met by the unmarked Niang who volleyed left footed into the top right-hand corner.
Marseille should have made it three shortly after when they produced a move identical to their first goal as Ben Arfa's through ball found Kone but after rounding Isaksson he saw his effort cleared off the line by Tommy Simons.
The home side completed the scoring on 70 minutes when Ben Arfa threaded yet another pass through the PSV backline, finding the on-running Niang, who outpaced substitute Jan Kromkamp and slid home across Isaksson into the bottom left-hand corner.
| Marseille |
Team Statistics |
PSV Eindhoven |
| 3 |
Goals |
0 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 8 |
Shots on Target |
2 |
| 6 |
Shots off Target |
5 |
| 5 |
Blocked Shots |
1 |
| 5 |
Corners |
2 |
| 6 |
Fouls |
13 |
| 3 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 85.3 |
Passing Success |
86.2 |
| 18 |
Tackles |
19 |
| 83.3 |
Tackles Success |
68.4 |
| 45.6 |
Possession |
54.4 |
| 48.7 |
Territorial Advantage |
51.3 |
|
