PLAYER RATINGS | Ajax 3-3 Marseille: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang nets brace as managerless Marseille secure draw
UEFA Europa League, Matchday 1, 21/09/23
Managerless Olympique de Marseille salvaged a draw in their Europa League opener against Ajax thanks to a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang brace.
Both sides headed into the game in form, and Marseille in the midst of a crisis. Marcelino left the club on Wednesday following insults and threats from Marseille’s supporter groups, making his position untenable, whilst Pablo Longoria and other executives didn’t make the journey to the Netherlands as they step back from their positions to consider their future.
Things were equally as chaotic on the pitch. Both teams could have scored five in the first half, only poor finishing prevented that from being the case. Ajax rushed into a two-goal lead thanks to goals from Carlos Borges and Steven Berghuis, however, in an open game, Marseille had their chances. Aubameyang ought to have scored when the game was at 1-0, but he fluffed his lines through on goal.
Jonathan Clauss did halve the deficit following some good work from Amine Harit, and it was the Moroccan who got the assist for the equaliser as Aubameyang did get on the scoresheet. Les Phocéens should have gone into half-time with a lead with Amine Harit missing the most glaring of a flurry of chances.
Despite Ajax’s attempts to reinforce the midfield, the game was just as open in the second half. Kenneth Taylor, who was wasteful with his chances in the first half did get on the scoresheet with Samuel Gigot and Chancel Mbemba affording him ample space in the box.
However, Marseille were far from out of the game, and another glorious chance fell to Aubameyang, who once again missed. Steven Bergwijn was then denied by a brilliant Pau Lopez save at the other end. Ajax would regret that miss as
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