Neymar sees red as PSG snatch Marseille draw

NEYMAR was both hero and villain as the Brazil superstar scored and was then sent off as Paris Saint Germain snatched a lastgasp 2-2 draw in a fiery clash with bitter rivals Marseille in Ligue 1 yesterday.

Marseille opened the scoring with a Luiz Gustavo long range shot on 16 minutes before Neymar levelled with a fine threaded shot on 33 minutes for his 10th goal in 11 games for the club.

After Florian Thauvin fired Marseille ahead late on, Neymar was booked and then red-carded in the space of two minutes when appearing to headbutt Marseille’s Argentine striker Lucas Ocampos.

In another dramatic twist, a bullet-like freekick from Edinson Cavani made it 2-2 in time added on to salvage a point for PSG as Marseille players slumped to the Stade Velodrome pitch in disgust and frustration.

“We are a little disappointed with the red card for Neymar because he was the victim of lots of fouls throughout the match,” said PSG coach Unai Emery.

“I believe that it’s the job of everyone to protect the great players.”

The result means PSG keep their unbeaten record atop Ligue 1 with 26 points, four ahead of Monaco on 22. Marseille are fifth on 18.

Lyon climbed to fourth earlier yesterday with a 5-0 away win at promoted Troyes as Dutch striker Memphis Depay scored a second-half hattrick.

The injured Mario Balotelli watched from the stands as Nice slumped to another defeat, going down 2-1 at home to Strasbourg.

Monaco beat Caen 2-0 on Saturday with Ligue 1’s leading scorer Radamel Falcao netting a penalty for his 13th goal of the campaign to keep the pressure on the leaders. – AFP