Ayew scores hat-trick

Ghana midfielder Andre Ayew scored his second hat-trick of the league as Olympic Marseille brushed aside strugglers Ajaccio 3-1 at the Stade Velodrome.

Marseille, who were winless and have not scored a first half goal in their last seven games, went into the match with high hopes as they seek to end their abysmal performance in the Ligue 1.

It was the son of the legendary Abedi Pele who stole the show in a grand style, hitting a hat-trick in the process to send the fans on their feet.

Ayew gave Marseille the perfect start they anticipated early in the game with a left-footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner when he was played through by Lucas Mendes to beat on rushing Guillermo Ochoa in the third minute.

Dimitri Payet and Ayew tested the Ajaccio goalkeeper but it was the Ghanaian who nearly added to his early strike 11 minutes later but his shot was saved.

The Ghana international doubled their lead 14 minutes into the second half after perfectly heading a Payet cross but Ajaccio striker Junior Tallo pulled one back three minutes later to breathe life into their hopes of salvaging at least a point when he was played through by Beniot Pedretti to beat Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda.

Ayew gave OM the cushion and his third of the night to put the game beyond the visitors after connecting a Brice Dja Djedje's low cross following a set piece in the 75th minute.

Ajaccio puffed and hugged but Ayew and his team-mates made sure they left Stade Velodrome empty-handed worsening their woes as they remain at the bottom of the log, 15 points adrift of safety.

Ayew has now taken his total league goals to five this season.