Nancy 0 - 0 Marseille: Marseille drop two Ligue 1 points in Nancy stalemate

Posted Saturday, April 22, 2017 by PA

Marseille dropped two points in their quest for Ligue 1's European places as they were held to a goalless draw at struggling Nancy.

Both sides hit the post and Maurice Dale had a late effort disallowed for Nancy as both teams attempted to break the deadlock but the defences held out.

A point is of some use to Nancy, lifting them above the relegation places by the same margin, but OM will see it as a missed opportunity.

It might have been worse, Faitout Maouassa striking the woodwork 14 minutes in for the home team against the run of play.

Pablo Correa's side continued applying unexpected pressure and would have gone in front when Uruguayan defender Erick Cabaco headed a corner goalwards, were it not for a superb save from Yohann Pele.

Les Chardons were forced into a reshuffle on the half-hour when Youssef Ait Bennasser came off injured and Vincent Marchetti entered the fray and the game became increasingly open as half-time approached.

Despite several half-chances, it took Marseille until the 67th minute to go as close as the hosts, the lively Florian Thauvin hitting the frame of the goal.

The sides traded efforts in short order, Cabaco seeing another header saved and Dimitri Payet working Guy N'dy Assembe.

Nancy briefly thought they had stolen all three points four minutes from time - and scored a potentially-decisive blow in the relegation battle - but Dale's effort was signalled offside.

Thauvin had one final attempt at salvaging victory for Rudi Garcia's men but he could not trouble the keeper with his injury-time strike.