PARIS (AP) — Loan signing Ethan Nwaneri Marseille defeated Reims 3-1 on Saturday, scoring a stunning goal on his debut for the club, tentatively returning to Ligue 1 title contention.
Marseille’s victory ended Reims’ winning streak in all competitions at 10 and prevented the northern side from reclaiming the top spot from Paris Saint-Germain.
Third-placed Marseille are five points behind Reims and remain seven points ahead of PSG until their match at the Parc des Princes on February 8th.
Nwaneri, 18, scored after just 13 minutes a day after joining on loan from Premier League leaders Arsenal. The winger’s goal-scoring style confirmed Marseille coach Roberto de Zerbi’s decision to keep him in the starting XI.
Collecting the ball in midfield, Nwaneri cut into the left flank, passed players with ease and calmly placed a pinpoint shot into the bottom corner from 20 meters.
Highly rated Nwaneri made his Arsenal debut in September 2022, making him the youngest player in Premier League history at 15 years and 181 days. He played in 37 games for the Gunners last season, scoring nine goals.
In the third minute, Amine Gouiri exchanged passes with Brazilian Igor Paixan and fired the ball over the head of the goalkeeper, his goal making it 2-0 at the lively Stade Velodrome.
American winger Tim Weah scored Gouiri’s second goal of the game in the 75th minute with a first-time cross from the right, taking Marseille’s record for goals in the league to 44 in 19 games.
Rayan Fofana scored a late goal, but the French winger Florian Thauvin Lens was ineffective in club competition, scoring 86 goals in two seasons.
Monaco draws
Monaco achieved a rare clean sheet, but failed to score in a 0-0 draw against Le Havre.
Middle-placed Monaco have conceded in seven of their last eight league games and suffered a 6-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday. The club Ultras has stopped encouraging players during matches and wants chief executive Thiago Scuro to step down amid reports of concerns over last summer’s transfer deals and physical preparation.
It was a more disciplined performance this time, but Monaco had more injury problems.
Central defender Wout Faesz has just arrived on loan from Leicester as cover. Mohamed Salisuhe injured his left ankle and limped off in the 29th minute. He was replaced by former Tottenham and Bayern Munich defender Eric Dier, who was injured and replaced in the 70th minute by Jourdan Theze.
Lorient wins again
Lorient followed up last Friday’s 3-1 win against Monaco with a 2-0 win in the Brittany derby against Rennes.
Midfielder Jean-Victor Makengo scored with a low shot three minutes later, and striker Pablo Pagis sealed the match with a close-range finish in the dying minutes.
PSG needed a late goal to secure a 1-0 win against struggling Auxerre on Friday.
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