Marseille close in on final with win over Salzburg

Marseille scored either side of half-time to take charge of their Europa League semi-final against Salzburg with a 2-0 win in the first leg in France.

The Ligue 1 side, who last reached the Uefa Cup final in 2004 but have never won the competition, opened the scoring in controversial circumstances in the 15th-minute. Dimitri Payet found Florian Thauvin at the back post with an inch-perfect free-kick but the ball appeared to strike the head and then hand of the former Newcastle midfielder before nestling into the bottom corner.

The Austrian champions-elect knocked out the likes of Lazio and Dortmund in earlier rounds and they finally began to show their quality after the restart. Lively full-back Stefan Lainer had a reasonable shout for a penalty waved away, moments before Hannes Wolf spurned a glorious opportunity.

Marseille gave themselves some breathing space in the tie with their second goal of the evening on the 63rd-minute slightly against the run of play, and Payet was at the heart of the attack once more. The Frenchman played a perfectly-weighted pass into the feet of substitute Christian Njie who slotted the ball home confidently, only three minutes after his introduction.

Desperate for an away goal to take back to the Red Bull Arena, Frederick Gulbrandsen was agonisingly denied by the post, as Marseille held on to their clean-sheet.

The teams meet for the second-leg on Thursday, May 3, when Salzburg will need a three-goal win to progress in normal time.

Defeat leaves brave Salzburg with an almighty difficult task: They were brave, bold and deserved more, but Salzburg now have a mountain to climb if they are to reach the final in Lyon next month, thanks to a combination of misfortune and a lack of proficiency in attack.

Marco Rose’s side can take heart from their comeback heroics against Lazio – when they scored three times in eight minutes to clinch a 6-5 victory in the quarter-final – but Marseille and their free-scoring frontline may ultimately prove too strong.

The Austrians have to go for it in the second-leg, which will leave them open at the back and while it's not inconceivable they will score two or more, it is difficult to imagine Salzburg keeping a clean-sheet with the likes of Payet and Kostantinos Mitroglou in such devastating form.

Dimitri Payet (Marseille): The former West Ham forward has been outstanding in recent weeks and he produced yet another sensational performance which is bound to have caught the eye of France manager Didier Deschamps. He was always available for the pass, finding space out wide and delivering with both feet. His crossing from free-kicks was particularly deadly.

Marseille: Pele 6, Amavi 7, Gustavo 8, Rami 7, Sarr 7; Sanson 7, Lopez 7, Ocampos 6, Payet 9, Thauvin 8, Mitroglou 7. Subs: Germain 6, Njie 7.

RB Salzburg: Walke 7, Ulmer 8, Caleta-Car 6, Ramalho 6, Lainer 8, Berisha 7, Samassekou 6, Haidara 6, Wolf 6, Dabbur 5, Hwang 5. Subs: Yabo 5, Schlager 5, Gulbrandsen 6.

15’ – GOAL! Marseille 1-0 Salzburg (Thauvin): Salzburg concede yet another free-kick and this time they are punished! It's a much better delivery from Payet as he curls the ball to the back post, leaving Thauvin with a simple header. It appeared to be clean header on first viewing, but replays suggest the final touch may have came off Thauvin's hand. Controversy.

53’ - PENALTY SHOUT! Dear, dear Marseille are fortunate. Lainer takes a tumble inside the box after he appears to be brought down by Lopez. The referee waves away Salzburg's strong appeals. More controversy!

54’ - GREAT SAVE! Salzburg recover possession immediately as Wolf bursts through and shoots... but Pele makes a fantastic one-handed save to tip it over the bar.

63’ – GOAL! Marseille 2-0 Salzburg (Njie): Njie makes an almost immediate impact off the bench, as he grabs Marseille's second of the evening! Payet is at the heart of the goal: the Frenchman receives it on the left channel and his cut-back finds the substitute inside the visitors' box. Njie's first touch sets him up beautifully and he converts with his second touch.

77’ - POST! It's not going to be Salzburg's night, is it? Gulbrandsen meets a wonderful cross from Ulmer and his first-time effort cannons off the woodwork. Desperately unfortunate but it wasn't the easiest of chances.