PARIS: Olympique de Marseille overcame a terrible mistake by goalkeeper Steve Mandanda to earn a 1-1 draw at Nantes in Ligue 1 on Saturday.

The match between two of French football’s most storied clubs, sharing 18 titles — a record 10 for Marseille, was a very drab affair in the first half.

That changed shortly after the break when Mandanda gifted Nantes the lead. He misjudged a back pass from Alvaro Gonzalez and totally missed the ball as he tried to kick it out, allowing midfielder Ludovic Blas an easy tap-in.

Dimitri Payet rescued a point when he finished powerfully from Yuto Nagatomo’s left-wing cross midway through the second half. The match ended with a late red card for Marseille right back Hiroki Sakai, who was sent off for a dangerous high tackle.

Sixth-placed Marseille remain in crisis, without a permanent manager after Andre Villas-Boas was suspended earlier this month and with only two wins in 13 league games, but are level on points with fifth-placed State Rennais thanks to their strong start to the campaign. Nantes moved up a spot to 17th ahead of Sunday’s games.

Earlier, substitute Charles Abi struck late to earn St Etienne a 1-1 home draw with Reims and extend their unbeaten run in the league to five games.

Abi pounced from close range in the 88th minute after Reims’ Marshall Munetsi headed off his line following a free kick and the ball fell kindly to him.

In an even contest between sides hovering just under mid-table, promising Ivory Coast forward El Bilal Toure headed Reims ahead in the 71st from Moussa Doumbia’s cross.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2021