Sports News of Wednesday, 27 July 2011

Source: GFA

Andre hits hat-trick as Marseille lifts trophy

Andre Ayew is thrilled to have helped Olympique Marseille lift the season-opening French Champions Trophy in a nine-goal thriller against last season's double-winners, Lille.

The attacker scored a hat-trick as Marseille won the game 5-4 in extra-time.

Andre's decisive penalty in the 93rd minute proved to be the match winner at the Grand Stade on Wednesday in Morocco.

"It's nice. This is not the championship, but it's still a trophy that we absolutely wanted. Now there is a lot to fix, we made many errors individually and collectively. But tonight we showed great character," Andre said after the game.

His last two goals both came from the spot after scoring his first goals in the 71st minute. The Ghana international was voted the 'Player of the Game'.

Jordan Ayew was a second half substitute.

The game, which took place overseas for the fourth straight season, usually pits the league champions against the French Cup winners, but with Lille holding both titles, Marseille stepped into the breach.