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Mears seals it for Marseille

AN extra time goal from on-loan English-born defender Tyrone Mears sent Olympique Marseille into the UEFA Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Mears headed in from close range in the 110th minute to secure the Ligue 1 side a 2-2 draw at Ajax Amsterdam, putting them through 4-3 on aggregate.

Werder Bremen, who ousted favorite AC Milan in the previous round, also knocked out St Etienne. The Germans, 1-0 up from the first leg, advanced with a 2-2 draw in France.

Mears was making a rare start for Marseille after his controversial move from English Championship (second division) side Derby County in September. The defender was heavily fined by Derby who said he had left without permission. Then-manager Paul Jewell said Mears would never play for the club again while he was in charge and although the right back returned, the clubs came to an agreement and the player headed back to Marseille on a year-long loan.

Mears scored for Marseille when he pounced to head in a rebound after Boudewijn Zenden's freekick was blocked.

Ajax, 1-2 down from the first leg, had forced extra time when Serbia striker Miralem Sulejmani fired them into a 2-1 lead with 16 minutes left of the return leg.

Earlier, Cameroonian midfielder Eyong Enoh sprung the offside trap to latch on to a Luis Suarez through ball and shoot Ajax ahead after 33 minutes.





 

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