Champions League Group F wrap: Late heroics save Marseille

Marseille staged a miraculous comeback to come from two goals to win in Dortmund and qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League.

That was despite Olympiakos’ 3-1 win over Arsenal, which the Greeks thought had sent them through from Group F.

On a dramatic night, Marseille started on seven points, one ahead of Olympiakos, while Dortmund propped up the group with four.

A win for the Ligue 1 side would have been enough to send them through, but they made a poor start in Germany with Polish captain Jakub Blaszczykowski giving Dortmund a 20th-minute lead.

That advantage was doubled just 12 minutes later when Mats Hummels scored from the penalty spot, although Marseille pulled a goal back in first-half stoppage time when Loic Remy converted Morgan Amalfitano’s assist.

But as the second half went on, the French side seemed less likely to earn the win they needed for progression.

That was until the 85th minute, when Andre Ayew headed in the equaliser from a corner and just two minutes later, Mathieu Valbuena scored a goal fit to win any game.

The midfielder gathered the ball outside the box before he bent a superb effort into the back of the net, sparking wild celebrations among the players and manager Didier Deschamps on the touchline.

They held on for all three points as Dortmund finished last in Group F with just four points, while Marseille snuck into the last 16.

The French side’s victory was heartbreaking for Olympiakos, who thought they were through after beating Arsenal 3-1 in Piraeus.

Rafik Djebbour handed the Greeks a 16th minute lead before a calamitous error from Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone – who was subbed on after 25 minutes – led to their second.

Mannone rushed out of his box to head a loose ball, but only found David Fuster with his effort, who lifted the ball back towards goal.

The Italian goalkeeper’s effort to clear the ball can only be described as horrendous as he tried to kick instead of catching, only to miss the ball and get thin air as Fuster’s shot bounced in.

Yossi Benayoun pulled one back with a well-taken volley on 57 minutes, but Olympiakos sealed their win with Francois Modesto’s tap-in after Olof Mellberg’s header crashed into the woodwork late on.

Modesto’s goal came just a minute from time and kick-started celebrations, with the players and fans thinking they had qualified.

But the news from Dortmund soon filtered through and celebration turned into commiseration as a group of stunned players stared at the big screen in disbelief.