PLAYER RATINGS | USG 2-3 Marseille: Greenwood brace sees OM clinch dramatic win in Belgium | OneFootball

Olympique de Marseille will go into their UEFA Champions League tie against Liverpool in January all that bit more comfortable after sealing a vital three points against Union Saint-Gilloise on Tuesday evening. OM would go behind after Khalaili’s early strike but Igor Paixao levelled proceedings on the rebound. A brace from Mason Greenwood was enough to see the away side clinch all three points before a late fight-back saw De Zerbi’s men live on the edge. After two ruled-out efforts late on, OM came through unscathed to clinch all three points.THE MATCH It was a disastrous start for Roberto De Zerbi’s men, who failed to close down Anan Khalaili whose low strike from range easily beat Rulli at the left post and sent the home fans into raptures (4′). Immediately Greenwood found some space inside the Belgian box after driving through several players, but his strike was blocked by Christian Burgess. Whilst USG looked dangerous on the counter-attack, OM would grab their equalising goal after some clever inter-play between Matt O’Riley, Igor Paixao, and Arthuer Vermeeren saw Aubameyang have a strike at goal from close range. Kjel Sherpen would spill the strike but Paixao was on hand to put Les Olympiens level (14′). If OM were happy to keep the ball and find their rhythm, USG were impatient to try to pick up on any loss of focus from De Zerbi’s men. A mazy run from Timothy Weah ended in a strike which whistled past Scherpen’s right post.

Just as Union Saint-Gilloise were disrupting OM’s passing rhythm, a counter-attacking move saw Mason Greenwood burst into the opposition half. The Englishman out-run Burgess before playing a one-two with Aubameyang and managed to find the space to finish past Scherpen and get OM ahead just before the end of the first half (40′). Roberto De Zerbi would decide to replace Timothy Weah with captain Leonardo Balerdi for the second period, which saw a lull in proceedings before Les Olympiens would further press home their advantage. Aubameyang’s clever flick found Matt O’Riley and the Dane’s first-time ball was weighted to perfection, as Greenwood latched on, drove inside, and completed a fine finish to grab OM’s third for the evening (57′).

Sofiane Boufal entered play for the hosts as a mistake from Balerdi handed the Moroccan a chance on a silver platter, but his strike on the pivot was directed straight into the arms of Rulli. It was a mistake from OM’s Argentine keeper which saw USG get right back into the contest, flapping a cross from the left side before Anan Khalaili struck first time into the back of the net (70′). There were emphatic scenes in the home end as Mac Allister thought he slotted USG to an equaliser, but VAR would intervene for an extremely marginal offside call on the Argentine. OM collapsed mentally, retreating back into a block and giving up time and space for the USG to pile on the pressure in the final ten minutes.

Promise Akinpelu was played one-on-one with Rulli after Boufal’s through pass, and USG thought they equalised once again when he slotted home – it was once again ruled out for offside to the relief of OM’s travelling contingent. Rulli was on hand to save in injury time from Akinpelu’s header at the far post, before the final whistle gave relief to an OM side that will be wondering how they got out of that one unscathed.

OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE PLAYER RATINGS

Geronimo Rulli – 5

Emerson – 5

Nayef Aguerd – 5

Michael Murillo – 5

Timothy Weah – 5

Matt O’Riley – 6

The Danish international started the game in a more advanced position in midfield, practically roaming as a no.10 and joining Aubameyang and Greenwood in the attack. His understanding and some fine interplay with Paixao and Vermeeren saw OM get back on level terms, and he looked like the missing part of the jigsaw that De Zerbi’s side have needed for the last several matches.

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 6

Arthur Vermeeren – 6

Igor Paixao – 6

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 4

It was much in the image of his match against Lille, where he was beaten seemingly to every duel against his defenders. He should have finished off his strike in the first half and would be thankful for Paixao’s positioning to collect on the rebound. Yet, he showed good instincts and timing in his one-two with Greenwood to help OM go ahead just before the end of the first half.

Mason Greenwood – 8

The Englishman looked more like his usual self, and picked up where he left off against Lille with a little more energy. He found pockets of space in the first period inside the box, and knew when to drive at Christian Burgess and Kevin Mac Allister. It was his driving run and finish before the end of the first half which put OM ahead, before he utilised that deadly pace and dribbling ability again in the second half. After being played-in by O’Riley the Englishman broke down the right, drove inside and finished past the left post of Kjell Scherpen.GFFN | George Boxall – Reporting from Lotto Park, Anderlecht