Rolando sinks Salzburg to take Marseille to Lyon

A goal from Marseille substitute Rolando deep into extra time finally ended the challenge of Salzburg and took the French side into the UEFA Europa League final in Lyon.

• Match as it happened

Trailing 2-0 after last week's first leg, Salzburg sought an early route back into the tie as Adil Rami allowed the ball to slip through his legs and Munas Dabbur quickly latched on to it. Yoann Pelé was down smartly to save his scuffed low drive.

Rolando (left) scores the decisive goal©AFP/Getty Images

Though Valère Germain dragged wide after being set up by Dimitri Payet early in the second half, it took a moment of individual brilliance to ignite the tie. Amadou Haidara – a scorer in the quarter-final comeback against Lazio – danced through and beat Pelé from the edge of the area.

A stroke of luck brought Salzburg level on the night and on aggregate as Xaver Schlager's shot was flicked into his own net by Bouna Sarr. With OM on the ropes, Pelé denied Hee-Chan Hwang, although at the other end Florian Thauvin's header was only kept out by the top of the crossbar.

Into extra time, where a superb one-handed Pelé stop kept out Duje Ćaleta-Car's header from a corner, and that proved crucial with four minutes remaining. Rolando, who had come on 15 minutes earlier, flicked Payet's corner inside the far post to spark Marseille jubilation, Salzburg ending with ten men after Haidara collected a second booking.

Key player: Jordan Amavi (Marseille)

The OM defender played a key role in keeping Salzburg's comeback at bay; he made eight clearances, won seven tackles and five aerial duels, and blocked four corners.

Marseille's Jordan Amavi (right) holds off Fredrik Gulbrandsen of Salzburg©Getty Images

Another OM substitute does the trick

Rolando has written himself into Marseille mythology, his controlled strike surely ranking second only to Basile Boli's winner in the 1993 UEFA Champions League final among goals scored by OM centre-halves! Like Clinton Njie in the first leg, Rolando came on and scored, something that symbolises the collective will in the Marseille camp this European season. It was a nervy way to reach Lyon, but getting to the final was all that mattered.
David Crossan, Marseille reporter

Departing Salzburg leave big impression

The Austrian champions have been using #UnserBewerb (#OurCompetition) throughout their UEFA Europa League campaign and, while they missed out on the final, they left an indelible mark on the tournament. Holding on to their star players and head coach Marco Rose will be a tough ask, but the feeling is that this season could be just the start. They have a lot to be proud of.
James Thorogood, Salzburg reporter

Key stats

• Rolando's goal was his first in Europe since February 2011
• OM reached the UEFA Cup finals in 1999 and 2004, but lost both
• This is only the second #UEL tie this season to go to extra time