Mears extra-time goal downs Ajax

An Englishman came to the rescue of French giants Marseille last night as defender Tyrone Mears scored a goal in extra-time to see them to a 2-2 draw on the night but a 4-3 aggregate success over Dutch side Ajax and a place in the quarter-finals.

Mears, the only Englishman playing in the top flight of French football, scored in the second-half of extra-time to raise French morale after St Etienne had also forced a 2-2 draw at home to Werder Bremen but they went out 3-2 on aggregate.

Marseille surrendered their overall advantage in the tie when Eyong Enoh scored in the 32nd minute after the French side's defence opened up beautifully for him and he made them pay as he tucked the ball away.

However, the former European Cup winners were back on level terms just two minutes later as Baky Kone created a chance for Mamadou Niang, who slipped the ball between the legs of young keeper Kenneth Vermeer to make it 1-1.

The French side lost concentration early in the second half which nearly cost them in the 53rd minute only for keeper Steve Mandanda to pull off a miraculous save from Luis Suarez.

However, it was a brilliant piece of individual skill from Suarez that created the second goal as he turned on a sixpence in the box completely outwitting the defender and his cross was headed home by Miralem Sulejmani to force extra-time.

Mears was the unlikely hero as he restored Marseille's overall hold on the match when he made it 2-2 on the night in time added on of the first period of extra-time, heading past Vermeer.

Marseille's Ligue 1 rivals St Etienne virtually saw their chances of progressing disappear in the first half as Werder Bremen took a 2-0 lead through Sebastian Prodl and veteran Claudio Pizarro.

The hosts rarely threatened the German goal but did give themselves an outside chance of pulling off a miracle when Yohan Benalouane scored in the 64th minute.

St Etienne, at least, saved face when they made it 2-2 just before the final whistle as Sebastien Grax beat the Bremen goalkeeper with a shot from the right hand side of the box.