| Goals | Goals |
|---|---|
| 18. Giannis Fetfatzidis (82’) |
Olympiakos dent Marseille knockout hopes
Greek side Olympiakos delivered a blow to Marseille's hopes of reaching the last 16 of the Champions League beating them 1-0 in their Group F clash here Wednesday.
A well-taken 82nd minute goal by substitute Ioannis Fetfazidis - brilliantly picked out by Spanish midfielder Fran Yeste - was enough to keep alive the battle for the second qualifying spot from the group.
Arsenal clinched one of them with a 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund leaving Marseille still second but just a point ahead of Olympiakos while Dortmund are three points adrift with the Germans due to host Marseille in the final match while Arsenal visit Olympiakos.
The first-half was a poor affair with the visitors creating what chances there were - veteran Swedish defender Olof Mellberg actually had the ball in the net but it was ruled out for offside.
French international goalkeeper Steve Mandanda saved his side in the 36th minute after Mathieu Valbuena lost possession in his opponents half.
While Valbuena flapped his arms in disgust Giannis Maniatis made good ground unopposed and unleashed a shot that Mandanda beat out, only for Jose Holebas to recoup the ball and his effort was heading for the top corner after taking a deflection only for the Marseille stopper to somehow get a hand to it and turn it away for a corner.
Marseille were more ambitious in the second-half and created two excellent chances to break the deadlock.
France international midfielder Mathieu Valbuena sneaked in at the near post but his effort from three yards out was a tame one and it hit the arms of the 'keeper and went for a corner.
His fellow French international Diarra too was denied by the 'keeper as he ran in unmarked at the far post but his header diagonally across goal was kept out by a one-handed save from Olympiakos's Hungarian goalkeeper Balazs Megyeri.
©2011 AFP
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