The Albany Gazette - Frankfurt edge closer to Champions League knockouts with Marseille win

Goals from Japan's Daichi Kamada and striker Randal Kolo Muani before the break helped Frankfurt keep their qualification hopes alive.

The Europa League winners are playing in Europe's premier competition for the first time since losing the 1960 European Cup final to Real Madrid.

But victory at second-placed Sporting Lisbon in six days' time would be enough to be sure of reaching the last 16.

All four teams in the group are separated by just two points after leaders Tottenham's 1-1 draw with Sporting.

Marseille, the 1993 European champions, can also still go through with victory at home against Spurs next week.

Spurred on by a packed stadium, Frankfurt started the game furiously and had the ball in the back of the net before the fog of the pre-game pyrotechnics had cleared.

Frankfurt broke down the right side, with Evan Ndicka hooking a low cross across the face of goal.

Shaping to shoot, Jesper Lindstroem hopped over the ball, leaving it for an unmarked Kamada to score his 10th goal in all competitions this season.

Lindstroem provided Frankfurt with a chance to double their lead 15 minutes later when he slid the ball through to put Christopher Lenz one-on-one with goalkeeper Pau Lopez, but the Spaniard kept it out.

Marseille hit back almost immediately, with Matteo Guendouzi slamming in a perfect curling cross from Congolese defender Chancel Mbemba.

Frankfurt answered with a goal of their own, with Mario Goetze laying on a pinpoint chip for Kolo Muani to score his first Champions League goal.

If the first half belonged to Frankfurt's attacking trident of Kamada, Goetze and Kolo Muani, the second period was a showcase of goalkeeper Kevin Trapp's talents.

The former Paris Saint-Germain 'keeper kept his side in the game after the break, with fingertip saves in the 50th and 58th minutes maintaining Frankfurt's one-goal advantage.

(G.Gruner--BBZ)