the sweet taste of victory

By: j | October 26th, 2008

PSG supporters rejoice today as they devastated Olympique Marseille in le clasico. With Stade Vélodrome singing out it was PSG who triumphed on a career day by Jérôme Rothen, a boy-hood fan of the club, being the hero.

Yet it did not look to be such a grand day from the beginning as l’OM came out in fine attacking form, pressing Mickaël Landreau from the opening whistle. Yet as the dust settled, the surprise move of the day started with Paul Le Guen’s tinkering of the lineup with an attacking trident of Guillaume Hoarau, Péguy Luyindula and Fabrice Pancrate. After l’OM came close, a hint of things to come was shown as Jérôme Rothen high curling corner from the left draw back from the goal to be headed into the net with power by a soaring Guillaume Hoarau. With the 1-0 lead, PSG didn’t pull back and for those who considered this “rivalry” is merely a media fabrication, one glance at the intensity on the pitch revealed otherwise as tackling was hard, contact beyond the ball very apparent and tension was very high. PSG hopes took a downturn as Mamadou Niang brought the match level at the twenty-first minute when he pounced on a loose ball brought about with a missed communication between Mickaël Landreau and Grégory Bourillon. l’OM brought to the Vélodrome to their feet as Mathieu Valbuena gave them the lead just before the break as he pounced on a rebound.

But after the break a PSG emerged that we have not seen. Confidence and with intent they attacked the pitch with vengence and eight minutes after the break Fabrice Pancrate dispatched a perfectly weighted through ball for Péguy Luyindula, who subsequently chipped the ball over an on-rushing Steve Mandanda. The match was now level but both clubs were intent on victory. At the seventieth minute a volley from the left channel into the center was met perfectly by Benoit Cheyrou. The ball exploded off his foot into the crossbar and down near the goaline. Bouncing up Mickaël Landreau jumped to grasp it but was interfered with and the ball bounced nervously into the net. The referee waived the play off and PSG went on the attack. Finally with thirteen minutes, PSG took the lead with Jérôme Rothen striking a free kick from thirty meters. As the ball came down into the box it went miraculously untouched and into the net. Leading 3-2, l’OM was anxious to level but it was PSG who scored next as Guillaume Hoarau added the second of the night with eight minutes remaining and the celebrations began.

The victory hands Marseille their first loss of the year and send PSG above them to third place in Ligue 1, a single point behind Bordeaux and Lyonnais. PSG returns to action on Wednesday as they welcome Toulouse to Parc des Princes.