MARSEILLE OPEN FRENCH LEAGUE ACCOUNT

Marseille, Aug. 27: 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 Passi’s 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 26year- old since joining OM on a permanent deal from Newcastle United for eight million euros 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 Ripoll’s 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.