Marseille hit Zurich for six

Niang: On target

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Marseille boosted their chances of qualifying from UEFA Champions League Group C with a 6-1 rout of FC Zurich at the Stade Velodrome.

Didier Deschamps' side beat the Swiss champions 1-0 a fortnight ago and did the double here thanks to two early goals from free-kicks, as well as second-half goals from Mamadou Niang, Vitorino Hilton, Benoit Cheyrou and Brandao.

The French side enjoyed a dream start, taking the lead in the fourth minute via Silvan Aegerter's own goal.

The opener came from Fabrice Abriel's superb inswinging free-kick from the left which Aegerter could only head into his own net at the near post.

The visitors' night got worse when the injured Johan Vonlanthen had to be replaced by Admir Mehmedi on nine minutes before Cheyrou blasted a free-kick over.

Controversial

Marseille then added their second goal in controversial fashion on 12 minutes when Abriel hit another inswinging free-kick from an almost identical spot on the left as the first goal.

Three players from the French outfit appeared to be in an offside position as Abriel's effort bounced into the far side of the net but the goal was allowed to stand.

Cheyrou then almost added a third on 18 minutes but Zurich keeper Johnny Leoni pushed over on the line.

Brandao was booked for a late challenge soon afterwards and then had a gilt edged opportunity to put the game to bed but blasted over from close range with just Leoni to beat.

But Zurich were back in contention on 31 minutes with a goal from Alexandre Alphonse from the edge of the box after a fluid passing move from the visitors.

But Marseille could have restored the two-goal advantage soon afterwards when Cheyrou's free-kick from the right had to be pushed behind by Leoni on the line, with Souleymane Diawara's header from the subsequent corner then going just over.

Onyekachi Okonkwo's long-range effort went just wide at the other end before Brandao scored deep into injury-time but his effort was rightly ruled offside.

Second period

The visitors brought on Milan Gajic for the unfortunate Aegerter at start of the second half.

Okonkwo was booked for a challenge soon afterwards before Gabriel Heinze, who scored the winner against Zurich last time, hit the free-kick from the edge of the box just wide.

Marseille captain Niang then got the crucial third goal for the home side on 52 minutes, lobbing Leoni after being played through by a superb one-two with Bakari Kone.

Djuric got around Marseille keeper Steve Mandanda in the 64th minute at the other end but Garry Bocaly made a perfectly timed last-ditch tackle with the goal gaping.

Four players were booked for pushing as Zurich attempted to take the subsequent corners but Marseille cleared the danger.

Hilton and Cheyrou then added late goals with powerful strikes, with Brandao also tapping in, to turn the game into a rout.

The victory leaves Deschamps' side a point behind joint group leaders AC Milan and Real Madrid, who shared a 1-1 draw in the San Siro.