PLAYER RATINGS | Marseille 4-3 Ajax: Pierre-Emeric Aubameyang hat-trick seals Marseille qualification

It was a back-and-forth game at the Velodrome between Marseille and Ajax, where neither team ever aimed to put a foot on the ball, leaving room for nearly 90 minutes of transitional play. Ultimately, a last-minute penalty from Pierre-Emeric Aubameyang (34) saw the home team grab a consequence-heavy victory, as it subsequently saw them qualify for the next stage and knocked Ajax out of the competition.

The fixture got off to a quick start when Ismaïla Sarr (25) was brought down in the area by a clumsy Jorrel Hato (17) challenge (7′), giving away a logical penalty, which was confidently put away by Aubameyang. The Ajax response was instantaneous, as a kickoff play led to Brian Brobbey’s (21) incisive one-two with a back-to-goal Steven Berghius (31), who sent the striker through for him to put the ball away, with a tidy finish to the right of Pau López (28)(9′).

Though the game so far had been dominated by a high-pressing Marseille side, the dynamic switched after the goal, as the Ajax attackers multiplied excursions into the final third, well solicited by midfield duo Kenneth Taylor (21) and Benjamin Tahirović (20). 14th-minute wing play from Portuguese youngster Carlos Borges Forbs (19) nearly brought a second goal, as he slid Brobbey through with a smart pass between the defenders, though he couldn’t get the better of the Marseille keeper. Ten minutes later, Aubameyang thought he had scored his second of the night when a successful press from Renan Lodi (25) allowed him to win his one-on-one with Diant Romaj (22), though the goal was ruled out for an offside position.

The disappointment was short, however, as two minutes later Chancel Mbemba (29) headed home a Jonathan Clauss (31) corner, taking the lead once again. Once