Andre Pierre-Gignac continued his fine form by scoring Marseille's 80th-minute equaliser in their 1-1 draw with Reims at the Stade Auguste Delaune tonight.
The French international striker cancelled out Antoine Devaux's opener with his seventh goal in 11 games to ensure that Marseille did not fall to a third straight loss.
In an even game between two sides were who separated by only one point in the table prior to kickoff, Gignac came closest to a first-half breakthrough with a 10-yard header which was saved by Kossi Agassa.
That was the clearest of the few chances in the opening 45 minutes, but the second period was much more open as Gignac twice more threatened with shots that were well blocked before the hour mark.
Reims suddenly upped the tempo and had three good chances in the space of five minutes as Nicolas de Preville, Mads Albaek and Floyd Ayite all had shots saved by Marseille stopper Steve Mandanda.
The French goalkeeper's second save from Ayite resulted in the corner from which Devaux eventually scored his second goal of the season, by heading in a cross from Franck Signorino on 67 minutes.
Devaux and Albaek had opportunities to double Reims's lead, but Marseille kept their deficit at one and equalised through Gignac 10 minutes from time as he converted from Andre Ayew's cushioned header.
The result lifts Marseille up to sixth in the table, four points above eighth-placed Reims.
Joe Fish
