PARIS — Midfielder Benoit Cheyrou scored with a sweetly-struck volley as Marseille earned a hard-fought 1-0 win at newly-promoted Reims Sunday. Reims, a two-time European Cup runner-up to Real Madrid in 1956 and 1959 during its heyday, had the better of the chances until Marseille started to get on top in the last 20 minutes. Reims goalkeeper Kossi Agassa was well beaten in the 77th minute when midfielder Charles Kabore curled over a floating cross from the right and Cheyrou sprinted onto it and volleyed the ball firmly across Agassa and into the bottom right corner. “It's a long time since we started the season with a win, we all stuck together and this will be good for our confidence,” Cheyrou said. “There's a lot more to come from the team.” In Saturday's matches, Paris Saint-Germain needed two goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic to rally from 2-0 down and draw 2-2 at home to Lorient. Defending champion Montpellier drew 1-1 at home to Toulouse Friday. Marseille looked tired at times, playing just three days after facing Turkish side Eskisehirspor in the Europa League playoffs. “It was an open match,” Marseille coach Elie Baup said. “Both goalies played well.” Kabore tried his luck early on with a shot from 25 yards that was tipped over by Agassa. But although Marseille had longer spells of possession, Reims had the better chances and goalie Steve Mandanda saved Marseille twice in an entertaining first half. In the 14th minute, Mandanda sprawled to his right to push away striker Gaetan Courtet's powerful header. Then, close to halftime, he thwarted Reims again when he stretched out his right leg to kick away Kamel Ghilas' effort after the striker met a cross from the right. Agassa kept out a shot from Marseille striker Andre-Pierre Gignac two minutes into the second half, and Gignac missed another chance shortly after but blazed the ball over the top after being set up by Spanish fullback Cesar Azpilicueta. In between Gignac's efforts, Mandanda had to be vigilant again to get a hand to Courtet's firm strike, and Reims almost scored on the hour mark when Floyd Ayite headed just wide from a freekick. — AP
