Olympique Marseille’s Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (right) in action against Montpellier’s Rami Bensebaini. (Reuters)

AFP/Marseille, France


Marseille stumbled at home once again yesterday, benefiting from a goal that should not have stood to draw 2-2 with Montpellier at the Stade Velodrome in Ligue 1. Montpellier were in front twice thanks to a brace by Chad striker Casimir Ninga either side of a goal against his old club by Remy Cabella.
But Marseille ensured a share of the spoils when Bouna Sarr arrived to convert a Georges-Kevin Nkoudou ball held up from the byline to the left of the box. It looked as if Nkoudou had done well to get to the ball before it crossed the line but replays later confirmed that no goal should have been awarded and a goal-kick given.
It was a frustrating result for both sides, with Marseille still stuck in mid-table after seeing their run without a home league win extended to six games. Montpellier at least moved a point clear of the bottom three but were left to wonder what might have been.
Ninga impressed with two goals in a 4-2 win at Lyon last week and he put the visitors ahead just after the half-hour mark after being brilliantly set up by Ryad Boudebouz. Cabella, the former
Montpellier player now on loan at OM from Newcastle United, levelled early in the second half from close range but Ninga pounced on a Karim Rekik error to restore the away side’s advantage before Sarr made it 2-2.
Later last night, Bordeaux were to entertain Guingamp with both teams looking to pull clear of the relegation zone before Saint-Etienne host Rennes knowing a victory could take them up to fourth.
Paris Saint-Germain are a huge 15 points clear at the summit and still unbeaten domestically this season after Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice in a 3-0 win at Nice on Friday.
Angers are up to second thanks to a 2-0 win against crisis-hit Lyon in the last Ligue 1 match at the Stade de Gerland as Cheikh N’Doye got both goals.
Caen are third after losing 2-1 at home to a resurgent Lille, while Monaco leapfrogged Lyon into fourth as Lacina Traore’s brace secured a 2-1 victory at third-bottom Bastia.