PARIS: Marseille ensured Paris Saint-Germain will have to wait another 24 hours before securing the Ligue 1 crown after keeping their remote title hopes alive with a 2-1 victory over Toulouse yesterday.
Andre Ayew returned from suspension to score twice at the Stade Velodrome, while Eden Ben Basat struck a late consolation as Marseille cut PSG’s lead at the summit to four points with the league leaders in action at Lyon today.
PSG could have clinched their first French championship since 1994 had Marseille lost to Toulouse, however, Carlo Ancelotti’s side will finally end their title drought if they triumph at the Gerland. Ayew scored with the opening goal just prior to the break as he headed a Mathieu Valbuena cross beyond the despairing dive of Toulouse goalkeeper Ali Ahamada.
Wissam Ben Yedder forced Steve Mandanda into a comfortable save shortly after the interval but Toulouse then found themselves further behind as Ayew struck again on 62 minutes. Moments after Morgan Amalfitano hit the post, the midfielder kept Andre-Pierre Gignac’s low ball across the face of goal in play before unselfishly squaring for the Ghanaian to apply a simple finish and take his season’s tally to nine.
The visitors grabbed a lifeline as Ben Basat drilled through the legs of Mandanda eight minutes from time. AFP
