Colombian international Radamel Falcao scored the winner as Monaco edged out Marseille 2-1 in a thrilling Ligue 1 encounter.

There were plenty of chances for both sides in the first period, but it was the hosts who dug deepest and drew first blood.

Lucas Mendes gave his marker the slip to head home Mathieu Valbuena's far-post cross right on the stroke of half time, but Monaco were level shortly after the break.

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The second period was just three minutes old when Falcao got in behind the Marseille defence and turned in Layvin Kurzawa's inviting cross.

Both sides came close to breaking the deadlock after Falcao netted the equaliser, with Andre Ayew's low strike coming back off the Monaco post in the 52nd minute.

Monaco struck the woodwork themselves in the 65th minute when Kurzawa met Joao Moutinho's corner with a header, but his effort was kept out by a combination of Steve Mandanda's leg and the upright.

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The visitors clinched it 11 minutes from the end courtesy of a brilliant goal from Emmanuel Riviere, who took the ball away from his markers, cut inside the box and curled it into the bottom corner.