Derby defender Mears heads Marseille a step closer to UEFA Cup glory

19 March 2009 11:30
Tyrone Mears' extra-time header sent Marseille into the UEFA Cup quarter-finals at the expense of Ajax as the pair drew 2-2 at the Amsterdam Arena, giving the French side a 4-3 aggregate win. Defending a 2-1 lead from the first leg, Marseille went behind in the Dutch capital when Eyong Enoh scored just after the half-hour mark but Mamadou Niang put the visitors back in front in the tie two minutes later. Miralem Sulejmani, with a close-range second-half header, took the last-16 game into extra time but right-back Mears, on loan from Derby, was the matchwinner in the 108th minute. Earlier Werder Bremen became the first club to book their place in the quarter-finals after a 2-2 draw at St Etienne completed a 3-2 aggregate win. The Bundesliga side's passage to the last eight never appeared in any doubt, after Sebastian Prodl headed them in front in the sixth minute. Claudio Pizarro added a second in the 28th minute. But Yohan Benalouane scored what appeared to be a 64th-minute consolation for the home side, and Sebastian Grax then grabbed a last-minute equaliser to earn St Etienne some respect despite their elimination.

Source: Daily_Mail