Napoli eliminates Marseille from Champions League

Napoli eliminates Marseille from Champions League

Published Nov. 6, 2013 10:03 p.m. ET

Gonzalo Higuain scored twice as Napoli eliminated Marseille from the Champions League with a 3-2 win on Wednesday.

After Andre Ayew gave Marseille the lead 10 minutes in at the San Paolo stadium, Napoli hit back with volleyed goals from Gokhan Inler and Higuain in the 22nd and 24th, respectively.

Florian Thauvin equalized for Marseille in the 64th minute but Higuain restored Napoli's lead in the 75th.

Substitute Lorenzo Insigne almost scored another for Napoli in the 84th when his effort hit the post.

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Napoli is level with Arsenal on nine points atop Group F after the London club won 1-0 at last season's runner-up Borussia Dortmund. Dortmund is next with six points and Marseille is last with none.

Napoli is unbeaten at home in six Champions League matches.

At times, however, it looked like Napoli's home record might be in danger due to some poor defending.

Ayew put Marseille ahead by heading in past Christian Maggio following a corner.

Inler used his chest to control the ball before unleashing his dipping shot from beyond the area. Higuain then hammered the ball in after taking a pass from Goran Pandev inside the area.

Thauvin also volleyed in to equalize after beating Pablo Armero. But Higuain was again in the right place at the right time and used one touch to steer home a cross from promising Belgium forward Dries Mertens for the winner. The goal took his tally to three goals in as many Champions League matches.

Before kickoff, a bus carrying Marseille supporters was damaged during clashes involving fans.

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