Marseille reach League Cup final
Reuters - Wednesday 03 February 2010, 22:31
PARIS - Brazilian striker Brandao's double
helped Olympique Marseille reach the French League Cup final
with a 2-1 win after extra time at Toulouse on Wednesday.
Brandao first scored a late equaliser for Marseille to send
the game into extra time after a second-half header by France
forward Andre-Pierre Gignac had put Toulouse in front.
The winner came just before the extra time interval with
Brandao scoring with a powerful shot.
Marseille, who have never won the League Cup, will meet the
winner of the other semi-final between Lorient and holders
Girondins Bordeaux on March 27 at the Stade de France.
Lorient and Bordeaux play on February 17.
Marseille created more of the limited chances in the first
half but both Argentine midfielder Lucho Gonzalez's long range
effort and Senegal striker Mamadou Niang's header went wide.
Both teams played at a higher pace after the break and the
home side broke the deadlock thanks to a Gignac header at the
far post from an Albin Ebondo cross just before the hour.
Brandao headed home the equaliser from a Hatem Ben Arfa
cross four minutes from the end of normal time.
Two French Cup round of 32 games were also played on
Wednesday and Ligue 1 strugglers St Etienne needed a penalty
shootout to overcome fourth-division Villefranche after a 2-2
draw.
Sochaux also qualified with a 3-0 demolition of Le Mans at
home in an all-Ligue 1 tie.