Ligue 1 – OM, 2nd, overthrows Auxerre (2-1) and returns to 5 points behind PSG in the standings, Under and Sanchez decisive

It was long and laborious, but OM are holding their fine operation. The Marseillais overcame Auxerre, Sunday at the Vélodrome, during the 33rd day (2-1). Largely dominating, but clumsy then surprised by a sumptuous goal from Birama Touré (33rd), Igor Tudor’s players ended up reversing the situation in two minutes in the last quarter of an hour by Cengiz Under (75th) and Alexis Sanchez ( 77th). This success allows them to temporarily put Lens at 4 lengths and come back to 5 points behind the Parisian leader.

The Phocaeans celebrated this victory with dignity because they know its importance after having struggled for a long time against a promoted player. With Vitinha in the lead but also Sanchez and Cengiz Under at his side, OM entered the match with their feet firmly on the ground. Its pistons Issa Kaboré and Jonathan Clauss multiplied the centers and the Olympian corners were linked. The shots also with a header a bit too uncrossed from Sead Kolasinac (10th) and especially the multiple attempts of the biting but not precise enough Vitinha (15th, 16th, 18th).

Touré had planned everything

OM failed to target any of their first 13 shots and paid for it. The AJA gave him a lesson in realism by adding style. On an eccentric free kick from Gautier Hein, Pau Lopez imposed himself in the air but the ball arrived in the axis 20 meters on Touré who sent it into the skylight with a sublime volley perfectly measured (0-1 , 33rd). At the break, the Auxerre captain explained to the broadcaster Prime Video that the shot, recalling the goal of Strasbourg Jean-Eudes Aholou on this same lawn, had been prepared for the video. Indeed, the Marseillais were still absent in the area where he was to be.

On the restart, the Marseille coach launched Nuno Tavares and Clauss went back to the right. Vitinha finally framed a shot (49th). With its Portuguese left piston, OM pushed harder and the public still shuddered (56th, 57th). Clauss again multiplied the crosses but Sanchez (68th) and Chancel Mbemba (70th) did not take advantage of it.

Tudor takes matters into his own hands

Boiling on the sidelines like the spectators faced with the clumsiness of his attackers, the OM coach decided to launch Dimitri Payet and Mattéo Guendouzi (71st). He certainly wanted to bring more technical quality, but also lucidity to his team. The option did not take long to pay off.

Served by Clauss in the opposing area, Under took the ball perfectly, before deceiving Andrei Radu to finally equalize (1-1, 75th). In a stadium on fire, Sanchez took advantage of the ambient euphoria and a grazing opening from Guendouzi to double the lead in stride (2-1, 77th). Despite a final missile from Hamza Sakhi diverted by Pau Lopez (90th +1), Auxerre could not respond and missed the opportunity to get away from the red zone.

OM are hitting hard. His pursuer Lens will play Tuesday in Toulouse then receive the Olympians next Saturday with at least a point behind in the big clash for second place. The Phocaeans can even then possibly dream of the first.