Lorient’s Ghana international Jordan Ayew scored a penalty to cancel out Dimitri Payet’s opener and salvage a 1-1 draw against his former club Marseille on Tuesday.
The stalemate left titlechasers Marseille two points clear of champions Paris Saint-Germain who face Lille on Wednesday.
In an attempt to end a run of three successive defeats on the road Marseille coach Marcelo Bielsa opted for a five-man defence.
Up front, Andre-Pierre Gignac had an off night, missing all his chances, including a lob attempt in the 24th minute.
In the 71st minute, he struck the ball at a virtually empty Lorient goalmouth, only for his shot to be aimed at Vincent Le Goff – the only defender guarding the goalline.
Marseille were struggling to create much real danger, aside from in the 32nd minute when Payet out-foxed Lorient keeper Benjamin Lecomte to put the south coast visitors in the lead.
Marseille’s lead lasted a matter of minutes, with Lorient levelling via Marseille’s former striker Ayew’s penalty awarded after keeper Steve Mandanda’s late challenge on Benjamin Jeannot.
Bielsa’s gamble after the hour mark when he introduced Michy Batshuayi for Abdelaziz Barrada, the former Al Jazira playmaker, failed to pay off.
Marseille finished the last 20 minutes the stronger side, sensing Lorient were flagging. Lorient captain Wesley Lautoa made a game-saving goalline tackle to deny Batshuayi with 10 minutes remaining.
Marseille, according to Bielsa, deserved to have come away with all three points.
“The difference between the two sides wasn’t reflected in the result, so there’s a sense of dissatisfaction,” said the Argentinian.
“We had enough opportunities but lacked efficiency,” he added.
Also on Tuesday, Toulouse saw off hosts Nantes 2-1, while Dimitar Berbatov was on the scoresheet as AS Monaco shrugged off being reduced to 10 men to beat Lens 2-0.
PSG can take over at the Ligue 1 summit on Wednesday with success at Lille, although they will have to do so without their absent star striker Zlatan Ibrahimahic.
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