An Englishman came to the rescue of French giants Marseille in the UEFA Cup on Wednesday, as journeyman defender Tyrone Mears scored in extra-time to see them to a 2-2 draw on the night and a 4-3 aggregate success over Dutch side Ajax and a place in the quarter-finals.
Mears, the only Englishman playing in the top flight of French soccer, headed home in the second half of extra-time to raise French morale after Saint Etienne had been held to a 2-2 draw at home to Werder Bremen, going out 3-2 on aggregate.
Marseille coach Eric Gerets, who has revived the fortunes of the club since taking over, conceded that Ajax had been the better side.
PHOTO: AP
“I would like to congratulate Marco van Basten [Ajax coach] on his tactics,” the no-nonsense former Belgium captain said. “It is the first time for a long time that my midfield had so much difficulty. We were running like imbeciles after the ball. It is painful for a coach to see his players suffering like that.”
The match had got off to a tense start as the stadium announcer had to order a Dutch fan to stop shining a laser in the eyes of Marseille’s former Dutch international Boudewijn Zenden, which forced the referee to stop the match for around a minute.
Marseille surrendered their overall advantage in the tie when Ajax took the lead on the night and on away goals. Eyong Enoh scored in the 32nd minute after the French side’s defense opened up beautifully for him and he made them pay as he tucked the ball away.
However, the former European Cup winners were back on level terms and ahead overall just two minutes later when Baky Kone created a chance for Senegalese international Mamadou Niang, who slipped the ball between the legs of young goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer to make it 1-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate to Marseille.
The French side lost concentration early in the second half and it nearly cost them in the 53rd minute when France goalkeeper Steve Mandanda pulled off a miraculous save from Luis Suarez.
However, it was a brilliant piece of individual skill from Suarez that created the second goal as he turned on a sixpence in the box, completely outwitting the defender, and his cross was headed home by Miralem Sulejmani to force extra-time.
Mears was the unlikely hero as he restored Marseille’s overall hold on the match when he made it 2-2 on the night when he headed past the Ajax goalkeeper.
Saint Etienne virtually saw their chances of progressing disappear in the first half as Werder Bremen took a 2-0 lead through Sebastian Prodl and veteran Claudio Pizarro.
Prodl headed home in the fifth minute from a Torsten Frings corner and Saint Etienne goalkeeper Jeremie Janot was helpless to stop Pizarro scoring when the Peruvian headed home from Mesut Ozil’s cross in the 27th minute.
Saint Etienne, though, did give themselves an outside chance of pulling off a miracle when Yohan Benalouane scored in the 64th minute. The hosts at least saved face when they made it 2-2 on the night just before the final whistle when Sebastien Grax scored with a shot from the right hand side of the box.
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