Lyon win after Mandanda blunder
PARIS: A howler from goalkeeper Steve Mandanda helped Lyon beat fellow European rivals Marseille 2-0 and move clear of their opponents in third place in Ligue 1.
Visiting keeper Mandanda gifted Nabil Fekir an early opener on Sunday, before Mariano Diaz headed in the second shortly after halftime.
The victory gave Lyon a threepoint lead over fourth-placed Marseille and drew them level on points with second-placed Monaco, nine points adrift of runaway leaders Paris St Germain.
Marseille showed plenty of fight but were made to pay for missed chances as a 12-match unbeaten run in the league was brought to an end.
“I take full responsibility for this defeat. I should not be conceding that type of goal,” Mandanda said.
“The difference was the two goalkeepers. Today we saw (Lyon keeper) Anthony Lopes be decisive and Steve Mandanda who was not good, which meant that Marseille lost this game.”
Lyon made a dream start as Fekir put them ahead in only the sixth minute with his 12th league goal of the season.
But the forward was indebted to France international Mandanda, who somehow contrived to drop a tame free-kick into the corner of his net.
Marseille almost levelled soon afterwards though, but Lopes pulled off a wonderful reflex save to keep out Adil Rami’s header after the centre-back was left unmarked at a Dimitri Payet corner.
Lyon were shaky at defending set-pieces and were given another let-off as Portuguese defender Rolando headed over when he should have scored.
Bruno Genesio’s men were living dangerously and needed the best of Lopes again when he got down quickly to thwart Lucas Ocampos.
But they came out after the break with renewed vigour and doubled their advantage in the 51st minute thanks to a Diaz header. — AFP