Sport
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ESPN News Services
Aug 31, 2024, 06:16 PM ET
Mason Greenwood scored twice in one minute to launch Marseille to a 3-1 win over Toulouse in the French Ligue 1on Saturday.
Greenwood scored in the 16th minute from a sharp angle and in the 17th from in front.
The former Manchester United forward has five goals from the first three Ligue 1 matches, matching the record of Mario Balotelli in 2016 with Nice.
The result was inevitable after Greenwood’s double and Frank Magri’s red card in the 27th for tripping Marseille’s Geoffrey Kondogbia.
Marseille squandered numerous chances and added only a second-half own-goal from Charlie Cresswell, while Shavy Babicka gave Toulouse a late consolation.
Greenwood had scored twice in his debut for Marseille in a 5-1 victory at Brest in their league opener, when he was booed by home fans following his controversial move from Man United this summer.
Greenwood, who according to ESPN sources is set to change his international allegiance from England to Jamaica, then became the first Marseille player to score three goals in the first two games of the season since Dimitri Payet in 2013 when he found the net in a draw with Reims last week.
Marseille lead Nantes on top of the table on goal difference.
Nantes also remained unbeaten after seeing off Montpellier 3-1.
Nantes started with Matthis Albine’s volley, although AJ Adams levelled in the 30th. Moses Simon’s penalty in injury time gave Nantes back the lead and Mostafa Mohamed sealed it late.
Brest got their first win, 4-0, at home at the expense of winless promoted side Saint-Etienne.
Mahdi Camara headed in the opener, and Romain Del Castillo converted from the spot for 2-0 by half-time. Ludovic Ajorque tapped into an open goal in the 77th after a free kick, and Kenny Lala slammed in a penalty after Pierre Cornud was caught pulling Soumaila Coulibaly’s shirt in the box.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.