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Rennes sealed their first win of the season in dramatic style on Saturday, beating Marseille 3-2 at the Stade de la Route de Lorient.
In a thrilling encounter, Marseille raced into a first-half lead but Rennes, who were looking for their first point of the season, came back strongly and ultimately won it with a goal from Kim Kallstrom in the second half.
Marseille, themselves trying to recover from an abysmal start to the season, opened the game in the best possible fashion. Wilson Oruma stole possession in midfield and slipped a pass through for Mamadou Niang who handed the visitors the lead with a firm finish inside the first minute.
But the Brittany side had an instant reply, Etienne Didot racing down the flank and crossing for John Utaka to head in his first goal for Rennes since signing from Lens in the summer.
Perhaps inspired by reports that Marseille are trying to sign Djibril Cissé, Niang seemed keen to prove a point and was soon causing problems to the home defence again. On the half hour, the Senegal international embarked on a mazy dribble on the left flank and crossed perfectly for Sabri Lamouchi to turn home his first goal for Marseille.
The game ebbed a flowed and the crowd were on their feet again before the break when Rennes found a second equaliser.
Alexander Frei had surprisingly failed to muster a goal in the opening three League matches, but last season’s top scorer was back in the groove here, heading home an Utaka cross from the left.
After a first period dominated by Marseille, Rennes will have gone in feeling relieved to be level at the break. They came out in positive mood and soon edged ahead for the first time in the evening. Sweden international Kallstrom made a clever dart to the near post and when Yoann Gourcuff delivered a low cross, he was on hand to sweep a shot into the net with his left foot.
Taye Taiwo went close to equalising seconds later, but Andreas Isaksson brilliantly parried out his stinging shot. It proved the closest Marseille would come, as Rennes played the game out on top.
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