Ligue 1 wrap: Marseille hold Lyon, Brown saves Bordeaux

Lyon missed a chance to go top of Ligue 1 after being held to a 1-1 draw by Marseille on Sunday, while Sochaux also drew with Bordeaux.

The basement scrap between Caen and Lens fell victim to the freezing conditions sweeping northern Europe, as did Lille’s match at home to Nancy-Lorraine.

With the league leaders out of action, Lyon needed to win away to defending champions Marseille to go top by a point.

The visitors got off to a good start when Lisandro Lopez was found unmarked by Michel Bastos, the Argentine striking a clean finish past Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda on 35 minutes.

Lyon retained the lead going into the half-time break at the Stade Velodrome, before the hosts hit back early in the second half.

Benoit Cheyrou delivered the ball to France international Mathieu Valbuena, who flicked the ball beyond Lyon shot-stopper Hugo Lloris for the equaliser in the 50th minute.

Lyon blew a great chance to restore their lead 10 minutes later, when Jean II Makoun put in Bafetembi Gomis, only for the former St Etienne man to strike wide of the post.

The draw leaves Lyon fourth, one point behind the three teams tied on 31 points, while Marseille are two points back in fifth.

Elsewhere, Bordeaux played out a 1-1 draw away to fellow mid-table side Sochaux.

Jean Tigana’s away team got off to a good start at the Stade Bonal and enjoyed the best of the opening exchanges.

They were soon in front when Jussie Ferreira Vieira took advantage of a mix-up between Damien Perquis and goalkeeper Pierrick Cros to head home from the back post in the 28th minute.

Conceding appeared to jolt Sochaux into life and they received instant dividends from their first real foray into the opposition half.

Modibo Maiga played Marvin Martin into the area and the midfielder produced an excellent cut-back for Ideye Brown to equalise on 35 minutes.

Bordeaux survived a late scare when Martin drew a remarkable save from Cedric Carrasso and while Yoann Gouffran appeared to handle the rebound, no penalty was forthcoming.

Bordeaux are ninth on 26 points, while Sochaux are a point worse off in 11th.

Mon 20 December, 2010

Ligue 1 wrap: Marseille hold Lyon, Brown saves Bordeaux

Lyon missed a chance to go top of Ligue 1 after being held to a 1-1 draw by Marseille on Sunday, while Sochaux also drew with Bordeaux.

The basement scrap between Caen and Lens fell victim to the freezing conditions sweeping northern Europe, as did Lille’s match at home to Nancy-Lorraine.

With the league leaders out of action, Lyon needed to win away to defending champions Marseille to go top by a point.

The visitors got off to a good start when Lisandro Lopez was found unmarked by Michel Bastos, the Argentine striking a clean finish past Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda on 35 minutes.

Lyon retained the lead going into the half-time break at the Stade Velodrome, before the hosts hit back early in the second half.

Benoit Cheyrou delivered the ball to France international Mathieu Valbuena, who flicked the ball beyond Lyon shot-stopper Hugo Lloris for the equaliser in the 50th minute.

Lyon blew a great chance to restore their lead 10 minutes later, when Jean II Makoun put in Bafetembi Gomis, only for the former St Etienne man to strike wide of the post.

The draw leaves Lyon fourth, one point behind the three teams tied on 31 points, while Marseille are two points back in fifth.

Elsewhere, Bordeaux played out a 1-1 draw away to fellow mid-table side Sochaux.

Jean Tigana’s away team got off to a good start at the Stade Bonal and enjoyed the best of the opening exchanges.

They were soon in front when Jussie Ferreira Vieira took advantage of a mix-up between Damien Perquis and goalkeeper Pierrick Cros to head home from the back post in the 28th minute.

Conceding appeared to jolt Sochaux into life and they received instant dividends from their first real foray into the opposition half.

Modibo Maiga played Marvin Martin into the area and the midfielder produced an excellent cut-back for Ideye Brown to equalise on 35 minutes.

Bordeaux survived a late scare when Martin drew a remarkable save from Cedric Carrasso and while Yoann Gouffran appeared to handle the rebound, no penalty was forthcoming.

Bordeaux are ninth on 26 points, while Sochaux are a point worse off in 11th.

Mon 20 December, 2010

Bordeaux proving to be French league drawcard

The 2009 French champions Bordeaux were held to their fourth successive draw on Sunday, a 1-1 stalemate with Sochaux.

Brazilian striker Jussie had given Bordeaux the lead in the 28th minute with a header from Czech Republic international midfielder Jaroslav Plasil’s corner, the 11th goal this season out of a total of 21 conceded by the hosts to come from dead ball play.

However, Sochaux levelled six minutes later as playmaker Marvin Martin broke down the right and passed to an unmarked Ideye Brown who slotted the ball past Bordeaux goalkeeper Cedric Carasso.

The visitors pressed hard in the second-half and Malian striker Cheikh Diabate went desperately close to scoring on his first appearance in nearly a year but his shot was brilliantly saved by Pierrick Cros.

Martin – who has created the most goals in the French league this season – went close twice to giving the hosts the three points as first his volley in the 72nd minute came back off the bar and then almost on the final whistle Carasso pulled off a great save from Martin’s fierce shot.

Bordeaux coach Jean Tigana was left frustrated with yet another draw, which sees his side in ninth place, though, only five points off leaders Lille.

“This draw is frustrating because we have not gone up much in the standings, but I witnessed a very good performance from my team in the first-half,” said the former Monaco and Fulham handler.

“But if I saw some quality, we lacked presence in front of goal, even if I was pleasantly surprised by Diabate, who was able to last the whole match after not playing for a year,” added the former French midfield legend.

While two matches programmed for Sunday were postponed because of heavy snow, the game of the weekend between seven-time champions Lyon and defending titleholders Marseille was due to go ahead.

Sun 19 December, 2010

Bordeaux proving to be French league drawcard

The 2009 French champions Bordeaux were held to their fourth successive draw on Sunday, a 1-1 stalemate with Sochaux.

Brazilian striker Jussie had given Bordeaux the lead in the 28th minute with a header from Czech Republic international midfielder Jaroslav Plasil’s corner, the 11th goal this season out of a total of 21 conceded by the hosts to come from dead ball play.

However, Sochaux levelled six minutes later as playmaker Marvin Martin broke down the right and passed to an unmarked Ideye Brown who slotted the ball past Bordeaux goalkeeper Cedric Carasso.

The visitors pressed hard in the second-half and Malian striker Cheikh Diabate went desperately close to scoring on his first appearance in nearly a year but his shot was brilliantly saved by Pierrick Cros.

Martin – who has created the most goals in the French league this season – went close twice to giving the hosts the three points as first his volley in the 72nd minute came back off the bar and then almost on the final whistle Carasso pulled off a great save from Martin’s fierce shot.

Bordeaux coach Jean Tigana was left frustrated with yet another draw, which sees his side in ninth place, though, only five points off leaders Lille.

“This draw is frustrating because we have not gone up much in the standings, but I witnessed a very good performance from my team in the first-half,” said the former Monaco and Fulham handler.

“But if I saw some quality, we lacked presence in front of goal, even if I was pleasantly surprised by Diabate, who was able to last the whole match after not playing for a year,” added the former French midfield legend.

While two matches programmed for Sunday were postponed because of heavy snow, the game of the weekend between seven-time champions Lyon and defending titleholders Marseille was due to go ahead.

Sun 19 December, 2010