PARIS: A late equaliser from Nice midfielder Fabrice Abriel held Marseille to a 2-2 draw yesterday, while Lyon were also pegged back as Sloan Privat salvaged a point for strugglers Sochaux in a 1-1 draw.
With Paris Saint-Germain in action against defending champions Montpellier in Sunday’s evening fixture, Marseille moved a point clear of their arch-rivals at the top of Ligue 1, but the gap could have been greater as Elie Baup’s side were left to rue an 88th-minute strike from Abriel.
Meanwhile, Lyon could have usurped both sides with three points at Stade Auguste Bonal but were left frustrated as a draw was only sufficient enough to draw them level with PSG on 22 points.
Mathieu Valbuena missed a first-half penalty before Andre Ayew headed in the former’s clipped cross to give Marseille the lead against Nice five minutes before half-time.
Dario Cvitanich then notched his fourth league goal since arriving on the Cote d’Azur six minutes after the interval, diving to nod in Eric Bautheac’s free-kick at the far post to haul Nice level.
Valbuena put Marseille back in front, stabbing home after Andre Ayew’s initial effort rebounded off the crossbar and the back of Nice goalkeeper David Ospina.
But the home side were undone two minutes from time as Abriel swept in Camel Meriem’s miscued volley from close-range to earn draw specialists Nice a seventh stalemate of the season. AFP
