OM on course for League Cup hat-trick

Holders Marseille reached their third straight French League Cup final today, goals from Loic Remy and Brandao in either half seeing off Mediterranean neighbours Nice 2-1 to give Didier Deschamps' side an eighth straight win in all competitions. Remy curled home a neat opener on 17 minutes for the 1993 European Cup winners, but Nice shocked the majority of the crowd at the Stade Velodrome when Anthony Mounier levelled a minute before the break. Elliot Grandin, on loan from English second-tier side Blackpool, robbed Remy and launched Franck Dja Djedje, who sent over a cross which ex-Lyon man Mounier dispatched into the net. But just before the hour mark, Brandao drove home after confusion in the Nice defence culminated in Francois Clerc fluffing a clearance which left his Brazilian opponent free to accept the gift. Marseille, whose weekend win over Rennes took them to within two points of the UEFA Champions League positions in Ligue 1, now face Lyon, who beat Lorient 4-2 after extra-time on Tuesday.