Cheyrou strike gives Marseille winning start

A Benoit Cheyrou goal 13 minutes from time handed Marseille a winning start to their French league season as they poached a 1-0 success at newly-promoted Reims. Cheyrou’s 77th-minute effort ensured that the only French side ever to land the European Cup went one better than reigning champions Montpellier and moneybags Paris Saint Germain, both held at home in their opening games — Montpellier by Toulouse and PSG by modest Lorient. Reims — twice European Cup finalists in their 1950s heyday and also six times French champions but tasting top flight action for the first time in 33 years — gave as good as they got on their return to the big time before they were undone when Cheyrou volleyed home from a Charles Kabore cross. “We hadn’t started a league season with a win for a long time. It was a tough match but we pulled it over the line,” said Cheyrou, whose side finished a bitterly disappointing tenth last season. From:Gulftoday