Marseille snatch dramatic 91st‑minute win to top Ligue 1
When I stepped into Stade de la Meinau on Friday night, the buzz was unmistakable. Four clubs were locked on 12 points after five rounds, and Strasbourg had a pristine home defensive record. Marseille arrived knowing a slip‑up would cement their rivals’ advantage, but the visitors were also keen to prove they could seize the momentum early in the campaign.
Early drama at Stade de la Meinau
The atmosphere crackled as the referee blew the whistle. Marseille set the tone immediately, pressing high and forcing the home side onto the back foot. A early chance came when Timothy Weah bundled a shot off the shoulder of Mamadou Sarr; the ball ricocheted toward the far post, only to be smothered by Strasbourg keeper Mike Penders. The denial gave Amine Gouiri a fleeting glimpse of goal, but his follow‑up clipped the post.
Seventeen minutes in, the game seemed to tilt in Strasbourg’s favour. Emanuel Emegha sprinted past the Marseille back line, rounded Gerónimo Rulli and slotted the ball home. The roar was cut short when the assistant referee raised the flag for off‑side – a cruel early setback that left the hosts scrambling to regroup. The decision sparked a ripple of belief through the visitors, and the French side began to test the space left behind by Strasbourg’s high line.
Diego Moreira, who etched his name into the fixture’s recent history by netting a winner last season, tried to recreate that magic. He delivered a sweeping ball to Valentin Barco on the left, but the Argentine’s cross sailed just wide of the target. The moment underscored how fine the margins were – one inch, one second, could rewrite the narrative.
Marseille kept the pressure alive, creating several half‑chance opportunities before the break. Gouiri earned a free‑kick that Penders parried, while Igor Paixão unleashed a shot that rattled the near post. Yet the defensive resolve of the home side held firm, and the first half ended in a stalemate.
Turn‑by‑turn of the game
The second half opened with heightened intensity. Strasbourg seized the initiative early, as Emegha won a long ball on the right flank, dragged Rulli out of position and diced a perfect square to the substitute Abdoul Ouattara. The striker calmly tucked the ball into an empty net, giving the hosts a surprising lead just five minutes after the interval.
Marseille’s reaction was swift and relentless. The visitors swarmed the Strasbourg defence, looking for an equaliser that would keep their hopes alive. Their persistence paid off in the 58th minute when Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang, ever the poacher, timed a low cross to burst into the box and finish past Penders. The goal sent the Marseille bench into a frenzy and set the stage for a nail‑biting finale.
Both sides exchanged blows after the equaliser. Strasbourg tried to capitalize on counter‑attacks, with Moreira again threatening the left side, but Rulli’s reflexes were sharp, denying the home side a clear‑cut chance. Marseille, on the other hand, kept the ball in the opposition half, probing for a breakthrough. The tension built with each passing minute, and the crowd’s chant grew louder as the clock edged toward injury time.
Then, in the 91st minute, the drama reached its crescendo. Amir Murulo, the Panamanian international who had been a quiet presence all night, found space on the edge of the box and launched a curling effort that slipped past Rulli’s outstretched arms. The ball hit the net, the stadium erupted, and Marseille celebrated a comeback that will be replayed on highlight reels for weeks to come.
Beyond the immediate euphoria, the result reshaped the Ligue 1 leaderboard. Marseille leapt to provisional first place, while Strasbourg slipped to fifth despite still sharing a points tally with nine other clubs. The outcome also dented Strasbourg’s home invincibility, a claim that seemed unassailable after five matches.
For Marseille, the win was more than three points; it was a statement of character. Just days earlier, the team had stumbled in a domestic cup tie, and doubts lingered about their ability to compete on multiple fronts. This victory, forged in adversity, highlighted a resilience reminiscent of their historic title‑winning eras.
Looking ahead, the French giants PSG and Monaco still have a chance to retake the summit when they play their Saturday fixtures. The early season volatility suggests that the race for Ligue 1 supremacy will remain open far longer than anyone expected.
Meanwhile, Strasbourg will regroup, knowing that ten teams now sit level on points. Their next challenge will be to restore confidence at home and tighten the defensive lapses that cost them dearly against a determined Marseille side.