Long led by AJA, the Marseillais ended up turning the tide after a long siege on Sunday (2-1).
This OM has resources. A week after their victory at the end of regulation time in Lyon, Olympique de Marseille once again played with the nerves of their supporters, Sunday April 30, against AJ Auxerre. Because if the Marseillais finally won 2-1 at the end of the 33rd day of Ligue 1, they were led for long minutes by the Auxerrois, who came very close to the perfect hold-up.
A foiled heist in extremis by the Marseille brigade, which put things in order at the end of the match by Cengiz Ünder (75th) and Alexis Sanchez (77th) in order to consolidate their second place, pending the trip of Lens (3rd) to Toulouse, Tuesday .
Long sterile domination for OM
It was therefore the relief that predominated on the faces of Marseille at the final whistle, like the rage visible on those of Valentin Rongier and Cengiz Ünder at the time of celebrating this precious success against the south bend of the Vélodrome, still sold out, but where OM have already lost twenty points this season. And where we thought the Phocaeans were going to lose again this Sunday.
Despite a successful start to the match, against Auxerrois who came more not to concede a goal than to score, OM did everything to force the lock, in particular by Kolasinac (10th), Vitinha (12th, 17th) and Sanchez (19th). But it was ultimately the nets of Pau Lopez who trembled first, against all odds, on a magnificent recovery from Birama Touré, following a corner (33rd). Against the run of play, AJ Auxerre took the lead, despite the overwhelming domination of OM, punished for their lack of efficiency.
A scenario that stretched out in the second half, with figures that bear witness to it: 70% possession of the ball, more than 40 crosses, and 27 strikes for OM. One of them, signed Nuno Tavares, even finished on the Burgundian post (56th). Marseille seemed to be heading for another major disappointment at home, before the strongman of the moment put the Olympians back on the right track: Cengiz Ünder.
Already a scorer in the last two meetings, the Turk equalized with a powerful cross shot (75th). Less than two minutes later, Alexis Sanchez imitated him to free the Vélodrome (77th). Igor Tudor then made between two defenders to lock the end of the match and secure this precious success, which allows OM to consolidate their place as runners-up with now a four-point lead over Lens, who will face Toulouse on Tuesday May 2, in game late. Lens which will be, above all, the next opponent of Marseille, Saturday May 7.