Valbuena helps holders Marseille into semis
Reuters - Tuesday 10 January 2012, 21:47
A Mathieu Valbuena double
helped holders Olympique Marseille defeat Caen 3-0 away on
Tuesday to secure their place in the French League Cup
semi-finals.
France forward Valbuena scored each side of the interval as
Marseille, who won the last two editions of the competition,
strolled past Caen with another goal by Loic Remy.
Valbuena, who has scored in his last four games, put the
visitors ahead after seven minutes with a curled free-kick and
it quickly looked like there would barely be a contest at the
Michel d'Ornano stadium.
Marseille were without the influential Ayew brothers up
front, after the Ghana forwards left to join the Black Stars
ahead of the January 21-February 12 Africa Cup of Nations, but Valbuena
and Remy more than compensated for their absence.
Remy made it two from close range in the 19th minute after
Morgan Amalfinato had connected with a brilliant long-range
cross from Benoit Cheyrou to set up the France striker.
Valbuena was at the receiving end of another fine cross from
Cheyrou after Lucho Gonzalez let the ball pass between his legs
to volley home and put the result beyond doubt seven minutes
into the second half.
On Wednesday, Olympique Lyon will take on French champions
Lille while Nice play Dijon and Le Mans, the only non Ligue 1
side left in the competition, host Lorient.