Olympiacos Mady Camara , right, runs to Olympiacos manager Pedro Martins ,after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League group C soccer match between Olympique Marseille and Olympiacos at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille, southern France, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
MARSEILLE, France — Dimitri Payet scored from two penalties awarded following video replays as Marseille beat Olympiakos 2-1 to end its miserable losing streak in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The win leaves both sides on three points as they contest third place and a Europa League spot.
Marseille is the only French side to have won the competition, back in 1993, but set an unwanted Champions League record with a 13th straight competition defeat when beaten by Porto last week.
Defeat No. 14 looked a possibility when midfielder Mohamed Camara struck for Olympiakos late in the first half.
But Payet, the former France midfielder, equalized from the spot in the 55th when he curled the ball into the top right corner. The penalty was awarded following a video replay after winger Florian Thauvin was fouled by center back Pape Abdou Cisse.
Then another VAR review went against right back Rafinha, who claimed he was protecting his face blocking Valentin Rongier's shot from about 22 meters out. Rafinha appeared to be marginally outside the penalty box, but his arm may have been inside and the referee awarded a spot kick.
While Payet has been searching for his form, he remains a technically assured player and he placed his second penalty in the same corner.
Winger Mathieu Valbuena traveled with Olympiakos but was not fit enough to face his former club Marseille, where he scored 44 goals in 368 games before leaving six years ago.
The visitors did not need him when they opened the scoring at Stade Velodrome as Camara netted with a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area in the 33rd.
Marseille rode its luck at the end with goalkeeper Steve Mandanda twice called into action.
Even Payet — not noted at any time throughout his career for his defending — tracked back to win an important tackle in the seventh and final minute of injury time.
In Group C's other game, two-time champion Porto assured its place with a 0-0 draw at home to Manchester City, but would have gone through anyway because Olympiakos drew.
Marseille needs to better the result of Olympiakos next week to reach the Europa League, because Olympiakos beat Marseille 1-0 at home and has a better head-to-head record with an away goal.
Marseille has a tougher-looking game at unbeaten group winner City next Wednesday, while Olympiakos hosts Porto.
WIMBLEDON, England — Former French Open finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas is into the third round of Wimbledon for just the second time, setting up a meeting with Nick Kyrgios at the grass-court Grand Slam.
FALMOUTH, MA – The police in Falmouth have identified the victim in an accident involving a car plunging into the ocean on February 20, NBC10 Boston reported.
PHILADELPHIA – The Federation of Hellenic Societies of Philadelphia and Greater Delaware Valley announced that the Evzones, the Presidential Guard of Greece will be participating in the Philadelphia Greek Independence Day Parade on March 20.
NEW YORK — A 20-year-old woman was fatally shot Wednesday night while she pushed her infant daughter in a stroller on the Upper East Side, police said.
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