AMSTERDAM – Alejandro Bedoya continued acting as the Nantes good luck charm against Marseille by helping the hosts to a 1-0 Ligue 1 victory under Friday night lights.
The US attacker, who is now 2-0-1 when facing L'OM, lined up on the right wing to go the distance. Bedoya threatened to score his second career goal against Marseille when he fired over from the right channel after racing onto a Rémi Gomis slip pass.
While Bedoya's attack influence was a bit muted after that, he kept busy by ringing up eight tackles, two pass interceptions, two clearances and a pair of cross blocks at the defensive end. Thanks to their first win in four, Nantes jumped into the better half of the table, eight points above the danger zone with five games left on their schedule.
Next door in the Bundesliga, Fabian Johnson and Borussia Mönchengladbach inched closer to securing a Champions League invite with a 0-0 draw away to Timothy Chandler's Eintracht Frankfurt.
Johnson worked left wing until the start of stoppage time for the Foals, but the expected full-game showdown between US teammates did not happen as Chandler made a rare sub appearance in the 65th minute. Before he reached the pitch, the 'Gladbach flank man had enjoyed a strong opening half hour.
Johnson carved out a pair of shooting chances in the box and teed up a stray Raffael effort from the top of the box, all in just the opening 22 minutes. For the night, he completed 27 of 34 passes while pitching in with three tackles. Meanwhile, Chandler was tidy on the ball during his shift, completing 12 of 14 passes.
The result extended third-place 'Gladbach's bulletproof run to nine league games, while Chandler & Co., crept to within three points of the last Europa League slot despite having their win drought upped to four matches.
One level down in the 2.Bundesliga, Alfredo Morales left in an early second-half tactical switch after having failed from the spot, but it paid off as table-toppers Ingolstadt moved closer to the crown with a 3-2 rally win over visiting Fortuna Düsseldorf.
The US midfielder's first career penalty try went all wrong, with Fortuna backstop Michael Rensing comfortably blocking a weak attempt. The Audi boys moved eight points clear at the summit thanks to their third straight win.
Also, Andrew Wooten and Sandhausen moved to the edge of clinching survival with a 0-0 home share against third place Karlsruhe.
Working from right wing, the American had a fairly quiet outing until he nodded just over the bar with three minutes to play. Now unbeaten in four, Sandhausen rose to eighth place, 11 points above the relegation mire with four games remaining.
Over in Ireland's top flight, Jake Keegan enjoyed an influential outing that helped risers Galway United get well with 3-2 home victory over Limerick.
The striker nearly broke the ice mere seconds into the contest when his lob shot floated inches over the frame. Unbowed, Keegan was tripped up in the area, setting up Enda Curran's opener from the spot.
Keegan was unable to make the score sheet himself despite an active shift that helped promoted side Galway snap a four-game losing skid and climb three points clear of the basement.
