Toulouse battle back for a point

Toulouse twice came from behind to take a point from the Stade Velodrome with a 2-2 draw against Marseille.

Toulouse twice came from behind to take a point from the Stade Velodrome with a 2-2 draw against Marseille. The hosts raced into an early lead thanks to Dimitri Payet's fifth goal of the season, but the visitors wasted no time in hitting back through Wissam Ben Yedder's 11th-minute strike. Mathieu Valbuena reclaimed OM's advantage just before the break, but once again Jose Anigo's team failed to hold on to a lead as Serge Aurier grabbed a point for the visitors with just under an hour played. Both sides made sprightly starts to the game, but, after Daniel Braitwaite went very close early on for Toulouse, the hosts found themselves a goal up with just seven minutes played. Florian Thauvin released Valbuena in behind the visitors' defence and, after racing clear, he rolled the ball into Payet's path and he ruined Zacahrie Boucher's debut with a clinical finish. Toulouse wasted no time in cancelling out the hosts' advantage when Braithwaite nodded on Etienne Didot's corner for the unmarked Ben Yedder, who slammed the ball past Steve Mandanda at the back post. With half-time approaching fast, Andre-Pierre Gignac almost fired the hosts into a lead for the second time but, after combining well with Payet, the former Toulouse man shot straight at Boucher. However, moments later Gignac got free down the right before pulling the ball into the path of Valbuena, who made the most of his chance to escape Aurier and slot home. As in the first half, Braithwaite went close to scoring within seconds of the restart, but, after being put through on goal, he saw his shot magnificently saved by Mandanda and Marseille's one-goal lead remained intact. Toulouse continued to impress and only a last-ditch challenge from Thauvin prevented Braitwaite from levelling after the Denmark international controlled Aurier's delivery before getting a shot away. The hosts' endeavour paid off, though, and on the hour mark when Didot swung another corner in and Aurier rose above Alaixys Romao, Lucas Mendes and Mandanda to head his team back level. Marseille did all they could to take all three points in the final half hour, but Thauvin saw his direct free-kick shave the outside of Boucher's left post before the young Frenchman volleyed over the bar from Brice Dja Djedje's cross with seconds left.