November 26, (THEWILL) — Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice in quick succession to give Marseille a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United on Tuesday, bringing an end to the visitors’ winning streak in the UEFA Champions League. The Gabon international turned the match on its head early in the second half after Harvey Barnes had given Eddie Howe’s side the lead before the interval.
Newcastle began strongly and were ahead inside six minutes when Barnes finished clinically. Malick Thiaw had already seen a header cleared off the line before that opener. Marseille responded through Aubameyang, who tested goalkeeper, Nick Pope, twice and then missed the target from close range on two further occasions before the break.
The striker made no mistake after half-time. Within 20 seconds of the restart, Aubameyang ran past Pope out wide on the right and slotted the ball into an empty net. Five minutes later, he put Marseille in front by converting Timothy Weah’s low cross at the near post, sending his shot into the roof of the goal.
Newcastle continued to threaten on the counter-attack but could not find an equaliser. The defeat left them in eighth place in the UCL table with nine points from their opening matches, though they had won their previous three European fixtures.
Marseille moved to six points with the win, sitting three places below their opponents. Aubameyang’s brace proved decisive after a wasteful first-half display, with the experienced forward capitalising on defensive lapses to complete the turnaround in front of the home crowd.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
