Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang delivered a stunning performance with two second-half goals, lifting Olympique de Marseille to a crucial 2-1 victory over Newcastle United on Tuesday, November 25th, in a Champions League Group F clash. The win revitalizes Marseille’s chances of advancing to the knockout stage of the prestigious European tournament.
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| Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates his second goal, the game-winner, on Tuesday, November 25th, during the Champions League match against Newcastle at the Stade Vélodrome. |
| Photo : AFP/VNA/CVN |
Aubameyang, a veteran striker, proved his worth despite earlier missed opportunities. He squandered four clear chances before halftime, including at least two that he would typically convert.
Marseille found themselves trailing 1-0, and their Champions League hopes appeared bleak. However, the Gabonese international dramatically shifted the momentum with a brace in the opening five minutes of the second half.
Just 30 seconds after the restart, a perfectly executed Marseille attack culminated in Aubameyang finally finding the back of the net, capitalizing on a poor clearance from Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope to level the score at 1-1 (46e). The play began with a well-timed pass from 17-year-old Darryl Bakola, who earned a surprising start under Roberto De Zerbi.
A Rocky Start
Less than five minutes later, Aubameyang doubled the advantage with a clinical finish, heading home a pinpoint cross from Timothy Weah (2-1, 49e). Marseille had completed a stunning turnaround.
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| Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang beats the Newcastle goalkeeper to score Marseille’s first goal on Tuesday, November 25th, in the Champions League at the Stade Vélodrome. |
Following the quickfire goals, Marseille dug deep defensively, holding firm against Newcastle’s pressure. They avoided a late collapse, a recurring issue for the team in this Champions League campaign.
This hard-fought victory is invaluable for Marseille, lifting them back into contention in Group F. Before kickoff, Leonardo Balerdi and his teammates sat in 25th place and were effectively eliminated. After Tuesday’s result, they are now 19th and in the playoff position, a significantly more favorable spot heading into their upcoming match against Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium in two weeks.
The comeback was nearly derailed by a disastrous start. Marseille’s early struggles didn’t reflect the electric atmosphere generated by the home fans at the Vélodrome.
Balerdi picked up a yellow card in the 3rd minute, and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was forced to make a goal-line clearance in the 5th, signaling Marseille’s early vulnerability.
Echoes of Drogba?
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| Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, despite suffering a head injury during the match, was a key figure in the Champions League victory over Newcastle on Tuesday, November 25th. |
| Photo : AFP/VNA/CVN |
Newcastle capitalized on the shaky start, taking the lead in the 6th minute when Sandro Tonali’s cross found Harvey Barnes, who slotted home (1-0).
Despite the early setback, Marseille regained control of the match, but they faced a resilient Newcastle side, adept at both pressing high and defending deep.
Marseille should have equalized earlier, with Aubameyang missing four golden opportunities. He was denied by Pope in the 17th and 18th minutes, and then failed to hit the target with both a header and a shot from Mason Greenwood’s passes in the 37th and 40th minutes.
However, the 36-year-old striker redeemed himself with a brilliant five-minute spell in the second half. Marseille fans will recall the heroics of Didier Drogba in a similar match against Newcastle in 2004. While Aubameyang’s performance may not reach legendary status, his contribution on Tuesday was undeniably crucial.
AFP/VNA/CVN
