Marseille ended a losing run with a hard-earned 0-2 win at Troyes, as Amine Harit struck early in the second half and Himad Abdelli converted a stoppage-time penalty on a night Bruno Genesio's side desperately needed.
Match facts
- Result: Troyes 0-2 Marseille (half-time 0-0)
- Competition: French Ligue 1, Matchday 6
- Venue: Stade de l'Aube, Troyes
- Scorers: Marseille - Amine Harit 50', Himad Abdelli 90'+8 (pen)
- Assists: Marseille - Emerson (50')
- Red cards: None
- Table after: Marseille 13th, 6 pts; Troyes 17th, 4 pts
- Managers: Stéphane Dumont (Troyes); Bruno Genesio (Marseille)
- Next: Marseille visit Olympiacos (Europa League); Troyes host Lens (Ligue 1)
How the match unfolded
Both clubs started near the bottom of Ligue 1, and the first half at Stade de l'Aube reflected that tension more than fluency. Marseille dominated possession without creating clear chances; Troyes threatened from set pieces and headers. Adrien Monfray and Jérémy Le Douaron both headed off target for the hosts, while Nouhoum Kamissoko — making his first Ligue 1 start as a holding midfielder — looked solid in the duels and combined neatly with Amine Gouiri around the 36th minute.
Marseille's best opening of the half came late: Abdelli's effort was cleared off the line by Mouhamed Diop. Angel Gomes was booked just before the break. The sides went in 0-0.
Five minutes into the second half Marseille finally broke through. Emerson's cross found Harit unmarked at the far post, and the attacker finished to make it 0-1 — a goal that ended a long personal drought and lifted the visitors after weeks without a league win. Troyes' first period of defensive discipline had slipped on that second-post delivery.
Genesio managed the lead carefully. Harit and Gouiri made way for Keyliane Abdallah and Neal Maupay around the hour; Kamissoko, one of Marseille's better performers, was forced off injured in the 73rd minute and replaced by Tochukwu Nnadi. Troyes introduced Renaud Ripart and later Christ Batola as Stéphane Dumont chased an equaliser.
The hosts hit the woodwork late and went close again in stoppage time: Ripart struck the right post from Lucas Maronnier's cross, then Batola headed wide from close range when unmarked at the edge of the six-yard box. Jeffrey de Lange had already made saves as Troyes piled on crosses.
Deep in added time — seven minutes were announced — Faris Moumbagna won a penalty after being fouled in the area by goalkeeper Patrick Beach, who was booked. Abdelli stepped up and converted with a right-footed shot into the bottom left in the eighth minute of stoppage time for 0-2. There were no red cards. Yellows went to Maronnier, Gomes, Dermane Karim, Antoine Mille and Beach.
What the result means
Marseille climb to 13th on six points and leave the relegation places after their first league win since late August, ending a run of consecutive defeats. Troyes drop to 17th on four points after a fourth straight league reverse and fall into the drop zone. Genesio's side next travel to Olympiacos in the Europa League, while Troyes host Lens in Ligue 1 — both still needing points to climb clear of trouble.