The Ayew brothers put OM in control (4-2)
27/04/11 - OM 4-2 Nice
André and Jordan Ayew struck down the Nice defence and installed OM at the helm of the Ligue 1.
OM 4-2 NICE
1-0: A. Ayew (30')
1-1: Traoré (42')
2-1: A. Ayew (60')
3-1: J. Ayew (78')
4-1: A. Ayew (89')
4-2: Civelli (90'+1)
"Ayew! Ayew!" That name, the Marseille public has not finished chanting it. The chorus was sung four times on Wednesday night. Four, for as many goals from the amazing brothers, the revelations of the year, a season in which they wrote a turning point against Nice. Because by winning after a top notch second-half, OM take their position on the throne, almost five months after having vacated it. Lille are pushed back by one point, and Lyon (winner against Montpellier) to five.
We often compare the Marseille team to a machine, relentless. Let’s just say they struggled to get going, their first dangerous shot coming in the 26th minute.
The reinstatement of Abriel on the right (Lucho started on the bench), and the repositioning of Ayew at the point of the attack (Valbuena dropping back in behind him) had shown some interesting movements. But soon OM’s play lacked percussion, so much so that the best opportunities for shots were still the most distant, with two attempts from Gignac, in quick succession, in his regular register from the left cutting inside.
Quite luckily, it was a blunder from Ospina which allowed OM to take the advantage. The Colombian, regularly hailed as one of the best specialists in our league, messed up spectacularly, inexplicably dropping Valbuena's corner into the path of Ayew (30’, 1-0).
Unfortunately, nobody in the Marseille camp seemed to measure the opportunity offered by this sluggish first period. The scenario of the recent OM-Toulouse was repeated, with an equalizer from the opponent just before the break. On a corner kick by Ben Saada, Traoré surged forward to pick up on a ball deflected by Civelli (42’, 1-1).
Ayew(s) 4 – Nice 2
Obviously, something had to be done. It would be the double substitution made by Deschamps: entries of Lucho and Jordan Ayew, in the 57th minute.
Just moments after, the latter sent in a perfect cross for his brother who put his side back in front (2-1). The coach urged his players not to shut up shop as soon as the advance had been made.
He may still have had in mind that just a few minutes earlier, Nice could have benefited from a penalty (just like OM in the first half). And therefore that only a more substantial difference to the score could definitely nail to the ground the Eaglets.
The message was received, with a third goal, still the work of the Ayew family, this time with Jordan finishing with a cheeky shot into the top corner of Ospina after break forward from Fanni (79’).
This maximum efficiency did not bring the match to an end. Tackled by Diawara, Bamogo wanted to take the law into his own hands from the penalty spot, but the agility of the keeper deprived him of catharsis. And this time, was it finished? No, not yet. André Ayew picked up a hat-trick, with a beautiful header from another cross by Fanni (4-1, 89’).
Civelli could always sign off on an ultimate goal, concluding a free-kick from Hellebuyck (4-2), the Vélodrome would bear him no grudge, reserving its voice to loudly celebrate the new leaders of the League and their coach.
Laurent Oreggia
Photos : Yannick Parienti
- OM had not been leader since their victory over Montpellier in late November, where they had already scored 4 goals.
- Steve Mandanda stopped his second penalty of the season after that of Kembo against Rennes in early December.
- André Ayew signed the second Olympian hat-trick of the season after that of Gignac in Zilina.
Credit: Olympique de Marseille (www.om.net)
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