Drogba hits hat-trick as Marseille beat 10-man Partizan

Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba struck a second-half hat-trick to give Olympique Marseille a 3-0 win over 10-man Partizan Belgrade in their Champions League Group F clash on Wednesday.

Drogba bundled in his first goal after 62 minutes and headed his second six minutes later as the French team made the most of their numerical superiority following the dismissal of Partizan striker Andrija Delibasic late in the first half.

The livewire Drogba, who hit a post in the 16th minute, completed his hat-trick six minutes from time, his ninth goal of the season coming from a solo effort that deflected in off goalkeeper Radovan Radakovic.

Delibasic was sent off after being cautioned twice, the first time for a foul in the 40th minute and the second when he was adjudged to have dived in a vain bid to win a penalty in the final seconds of first half added time.

The Italian referee Domenico Messina showed no hesitation in flourishing his yellow and red cards in quick succession to the joy of a huge and noisy crowd celebrating Marseille's return to Champions League action after a three-year absence.

Until Delibasic's dismissal, Partizan had coped well with Marseille's attacks and produced several sharp counters of their own.