Picture: OM.net
OM - FC Nantes (1-1): Thauvin snatches a point
OM snatched a 1-1 draw with a goal in the fourth minute of injury time against a stubborn FC Nantes side.
After the consecutive losses in Paris, it was time for OM to return to the Orange Vélodrome and continue its push towards the Champions League.
But 11 minutes in, that plan was unravelled quickly by Claudio Ranieri’s side. Leo Dubois took advantage of some desperate defending to fire past Steve Mandanda.
OM responded, quickly settling into their rhythm but the visitors - renowned for their stubborn shape and good defensive ability were able to repel the OM attack.
OM pushed forward in the 2nd half - with Dimitri Payet in particular attempting the audacious with a wonderful overhead kick, beaten away by Ciprian Tatarusanu.
The captain attempted another one - this time a scissor kick which was just wide of the goal as OM stepped up in urgency as time continued to run out.
In the last 10 minutes, OM enjoyed as much as 80% of possession - throwing everything at the opposition half, but were unable to find the goal that would give them something from this game.
That was until the 94th minute. At the last, Florian Thauvin popped up to turn the ball into the net as OM saved a point to maintain a 5 point gap to Lyon in the final Champions League spot.
Attention now turns to the Europa League last 16 first leg against Spanish side Athletic Bilbao on Thursday at the Orange Vélodrome.