Marseille see off Lorient for first win
AFP
AFP, MARSEILLE: Marseille got their Ligue 1 campaign up and running as they beat Lorient 2-0 at the Stade Velodrome on Friday to pick up their first win of the season.
Remy Cabella fired Franck Passis hosts in front with a brilliant first-half free-kick, and Bafetimbi Gomis added a second in the 70th minute.
The victory is a second in three home league matches for Marseille, having gone the previous 15 without a win. Lorient have had the worst possible start to the new season and now prop up the fledgling Ligue 1 table and remain pointless after three games.
Cabella broke the deadlock in the 19th minute by curling a wonderful set-piece past the despairing dive of Lorient goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte, after having been fouled himself 25 yards from goal by Erwin Koffi.
It was a first goal for the 26-year-old since joining OM on a permanent deal from Newcastle United for eight million euros ($8.95m) in the close season, having spent last term on loan at the Stade Velodrome.
Lorient rarely threatened in the first half and Gomis almost grabbed his maiden Marseille goal when Lecomte kicked the ball against him, but it bobbled wide.
Sylvain Ripolls away side were the better team for much of the second period, but they were often guilty of taking too long in front of goal.
Walid Mesloub dribbled an effort harmlessly wide, before Majeed Waris flicked Moryke Fofanas cross past the far post. Lorients best chance fell to midfielder Cafu, but his close-range shot was well-saved by Marseille keeper Yohann Pele.
With 20 minutes to play Gomis was sent clear by Cabella and, after a neat step over, the recent signing from Swansea City drilled in his first goal for the club to seal the win.
Meanwhile, Lorient striker Benjamin Jeannot has been suspended pending a disciplinary hearing after pushing a referee during his teams 3-0 home loss to Bastia last weekend, the French football league (LFP) announced on Thursday.
The LFP announced they were taking the decision based on the brutality of the act.
The 24-year-old will be suspended from Friday until his hearing on September 15 when his suspension could be extended.
Jeannot was sent off by referee Amaury Delerue after he had been pushed following a tussle in the Bastia penalty area where Lorient striker Majeed Waris should have been awarded a penalty.
On Sunday the French elite referee committee had called for acts like that to be abolished from French football, adding that it came at a moment when authorities are trying to improve the quality of the league and attract more people, acts like these tarnish the image of the league.
