Late Grosskreutz strike sends Dortmund through

Kevin Grosskreutz's late goal fired Borussia Dortmund into the UEFA Champions League round of 16 as last season's runners-up recorded the 2-1 victory they needed at Olympique de Marseille to advance as Group F winners.

Jürgen Klopp's side made the perfect start courtesy of Robert Lewandowski's cool finish, but eliminated Marseille did not let their heads drop. With José Anigo on the bench after Élie Baup's dismissal at the weekend, the French club levelled through Souleymane Diawara and increasingly looked set to register their first point despite Dimitri Payet's first-half dismissal. With SSC Napoli beating Arsenal FC elsewhere in the section, the Schwarzgelben needed a winner – and Grosskreutz provided it.

The visitors clearly craved an early goal and they got it with less than four minutes gone, left-back Eric Durm releasing Lewandowski and the Poland forward holding off Lucas Mendes before jabbing the ball beyond the on-rushing Steve Mandanda. If Marseille had only pride to play for, even that was looking diminished, yet they reacted with plenty to equalise not long after.

Interim OM coach Anigo is nothing if not a motivator and his charges levelled via a Payet free-kick. Roman Weidenfeller raced off his line to punch clear but failed to stop Saber Khalifa nodding against the crossbar and, as the ball bounced down and out, Diawara stooped to apply a simple finish.

Suddenly the spring returned to Marseille's step – only for Payet to be sent off on 34 minutes, cautioned for simulation just moments after his first yellow card. To their credit, the hosts did not sit back at that point, and Florian Thauvin tested Weidenfeller with a low attempt after bursting down the right.

Dortmund were through as things stood at the break, but they had no intention of relying on events in Naples and laid down intense pressure after the restart, Mandanda saving a Jakub Błaszczykowski header at his near post before Marco Reus cracked a shot against the base of the upright.

Dressed in their famous yellow and black shirts, the visitors buzzed like bees around the Marseille area and should have taken the lead when Lewandowski pounced on an under-hit Diawara back pass, sped past Mandanda but could only find the side netting. Shortly afterwards, Reus blazed over from just in front of goal.

As news of Napoli's goal filtered in, those misses began to look costly. Klopp's charges, so scintillating last term, were about to be unseated from Europe's top table. Grosskreutz had other ideas, however, and beat Mandanda with a low effort from close to the penalty spot. Cue euphoria.