Evian hold nine-man Marseille

Marseille finished the match with nine men and failed to take advantage of struggling opposition as they drew 1-1 at Evian.

Marseille finished the match with nine men and failed to take advantage of struggling opposition as a 1-1 draw with Evian saw them continue a poor run with their challenge at the top of Ligue 1 faltering. Things had looked good for the visitors, who started the match in third place, when Andre-Pierre Gignac put them ahead five minutes after the break. However, the lead lasted just eight minutes before Yannick Sagbo levelled from the spot after Kassim Abdallah had fouled Saber Khelifa, with the defender also given a straight red card as the last man. Marseille's miserable afternoon continued 15 minutes from time when Jordan Ayew was sent off after being shown his second yellow card and they have now taken just two points from three games. It was Marseille though who started better, Rod Fanni's drilled shot drawing the first save of the game from Bertrand Laquait. Foued Kadir then drove a low right-footed shot which the goalkeeper again thwarted. However, Evian almost went ahead after 32 minutes when Gignac was forced to head Kevin Berigaud's backheel clear off the line with goalkeeper Steve Mandanda beaten. Alaixys Romao then fired in a 30-yard shot for Marseille that required a flying save from Laquait but the teams reached half-time goalless. Gignac finally opened the scoring after 50 minutes with a fierce 25-yard shot which completely took the keeper by surprise. But the hosts were soon level through Sagbo's penalty, with the visitors' job all the harder thanks to Abdallah's red card. Khelifa's snap shot was deflected away by Mandanda before Berigaud's curled shot was deflected by a defender. Marseille were then reduced to nine men thanks to Ayew's dismissal but Evian could not take advantage, only coming close when Sidney Govou's volley was repelled by Mandanda.