Sat Jan 26 17:55:53 2008

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Cisse's hat trick leads Marseille over Caen

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Marseille, France (Sports Network) - Djibril Cisse scored three goals to help Marseille roll to a 6-1 win over Caen in the French Ligue 1 on Saturday.

Marseille continued its resurgence in league play - improving to 6-1-4 in its last 11 - to move into eighth and within five points of a European berth.

Marseille finished second in the league last season but struggled early in the campaign this season, winning just two of its first 12 games.

Marseille is five points behind fourth-place Nice, and just nine points behind second-place Bordeaux. Lyon is 13 points ahead of Marseille in first.

Cisse scored his first goal in the 28th minute to erase an early deficit, then added goals in the 55th and 57th. Mathieu Valbuena chipped in a pair of goals and Samir Nasri capped the scoring in the 82nd for Marseille.

Julien Toudic scored less than two minutes into the match for Caen, but it was all downhill from there for the sixth-place club.

After Cisse equalized, Valbuena scored his goals minutes apart in the 41st and 44th minutes. Cisse followed with two goals early after half and Nasri put the finishing touches on the blowout.

Also on Saturday, Olivier Monterubbio scored twice to help Lens tie Strasbourg 2-2, Ederson scored in the 89th minute as Nice tied Toulouse 1-1, Momar NDiaye scored in the 80th minute to help Metz tie Rennes 1-1, Jeremie Brechet scored in Sochaux's 1-0 win over Valenciennes, Diasuke Matsui scored in Le Mans' 1-0 win over Monaco, Lille tied PSG 0-0 and Auxerre tied Nancy 0-0.

On Sunday, Lorient hosts Bordeaux and St. Etienne hosts Lyon.