Florent Malouda is sent flying by Souleymane Diawara's foul in the penalty area
By Sam Lyon
Chelsea's poor run of form continued as Brandao's late strike handed Marseille a narrow win in their Champions League final Group F game in France.
Brandao tapped in after Taye Taiwo's shot was deflected into the Brazilian's path to secure a deserved home win.
It ended Chelsea's hopes of earning six group wins out of six, though they will argue they were denied two penalties.
Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou were fouled by Souleymane Diawara in the first half, but he escaped punishment.
Chelsea's 2-1 win over MSK Zilina a fortnight ago had guaranteed they would top the section, but this was not a Marseille victory inflicted upon a Blues team with their foot off the pedal.
Carlo Ancelotti had spoken before the match of the need for a good performance on the back of a worrying run of form, and a strong starting XI underlined the Italian's desire to get a positive performance and result out of the match.
The Italian's desires went unfulfilled, though, as the Blues stuttered, coughed and stumbled their way through a largely uninspiring and ultimately toothless display.
It comes on the back of a run of results that has seen them secure just one league win in six and prompted their fall from first to third place in the Premier League.
And if Chelsea were hoping to meet a half-hearted Marseille - given the French side had guaranteed their own progression a fortnight ago as well - again they were to be disappointed.
Like the Blues, Marseille have been off form of late, having fallen to fourth in France's Ligue 1 with just a point from their last two matches.
So, while some might have expected both sides to take this dead rubber lightly, instead both Ancelotti and home boss Didier Deschamps entered the contest desperate for a morale-boosting win that might reignite their side's season.
That was underlined by Ancelotti's selection, with the likes of John Terry, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba all starting.
But it was Marseille who edged an entertaining first half.
Benoit Cheyrou had already sent a dipping shot wide from range when Matheiu Valbuena rattled the crossbar with a wicked 22-yard effort - and Marseille's diminutive playmaker then sent an unmarked diving header wide.
Loic Remy also shot off-target from range, while Gabriel Heinze will count himself a touch unlucky that his header home from Cheyrou's free-kick was ruled out for offside - replays suggested the former Manchester United man was level.
Still, despite those scares, Chelsea could have entered the break ahead had they not had two strong penalty appeals turned down.
Initially referee Vladislav Bezborov awarded a spot-kick when Diawara felled Malouda - only to then change his mind on the advice of his linesman - and the Russian referee then waved away Chelsea's appeals for a second time when Kalou was brought down by Diawara later in the half.
Both should have been given, and Drogba was still remonstrating with the Russian officials as the second half got back under way.
It was about as big an impact as the Ivorian had on the whole match in reality, though his long-awaited return to the club he describes as "home" did at least end in a heartfelt standing ovation from the home fans when he was withdrawn on the hour.
That Valbuena - by far Marseille's most potent weapon before that - was substituted at the same time said much for both sides' ever decreasing ambition, or at least attacking quality, in the second half.
Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic had to produce a fine block on the stretch to clear Fabrice Abriel's snap-shot from inside the area, while a Taiwo long-ranger was deflected narrowly past Petr Cech's upright by Terry soon after.
But just as it looked like the Blues would emerge with a clean sheet and a point, which in itself would have been some comfort given their struggles of late, up popped Brandao with nine minutes remaining to secure the win for Marseille.
It means Chelsea enter what promises to be a crucial stage in their bid to retain the Premier League trophy - Ancelotti's side play Spurs at White Hart Lane on Sunday ahead of matches against Manchester United and Arsenal - still desperately short of form and confidence.
90:00+3:17 The referee blows for the end of the match.
90:00+2:43 Effort from deep inside the area by Daniel Sturridge misses to the left of the goal.
87:57 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Lucho Gonzalez from the right by-line to the near post, Florent Malouda makes a clearance.
86:54 Benoit Cheyrou concedes a free kick for a foul on Daniel Sturridge. Direct free kick taken by Michael Essien.
85:07 Substitution Jordan Ayew joins the action as a substitute, replacing Leyti N'Diaye.
83:31 Daniel Sturridge takes a shot. Save by Steve Mandanda.
82:03 Booking Andre Ayew booked for unsporting behaviour.
80:10 Assist on the goal came from Taye Taiwo.
80:10 GOAL - Evanilson Brandao:Marseille 1 - 0 Chelsea Goal scored by Evanilson Brandao from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Marseille 1-0 Chelsea.
79:17 Substitution Patrick Van Aanholt comes on in place of Jose Bosingwa.
77:28 Corner taken left-footed by Florent Malouda, Steve Mandanda makes a save.
75:42 Paulo Ferreira delivers the ball, save by Steve Mandanda.
74:03 Daniel Sturridge challenges Leyti N'Diaye unfairly and gives away a free kick. Leyti N'Diaye takes the free kick.
73:21 Benoit Cheyrou has an effort at goal from long range that goes wide left.
72:01 Shot from just outside the box by Ramires goes over the target.
71:10 Substitution (Chelsea) makes a substitution, with Jeffrey Bruma coming on for John Terry.
70:54 Shot from just outside the box by Charles Kabore goes over the bar.
69:23 Charles Kabore delivers the ball.
68:03 The assistant referee flags for offside against Daniel Sturridge. Steve Mandanda restarts play with the free kick.
67:28 The assistant referee flags for offside against Daniel Sturridge. Free kick taken by Steve Mandanda.
67:09 The offside flag is raised against Evanilson Brandao. Petr Cech restarts play with the free kick.
64:06 Effort on goal by Benoit Cheyrou from outside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the bar.
63:48 Corner taken right-footed by Lucho Gonzalez, clearance made by Daniel Sturridge.
63:27 Taye Taiwo takes a shot. Blocked by Jose Bosingwa.
63:05 Short corner taken by Lucho Gonzalez.
61:57 Foul by Michael Essien on Mathieu Valbuena, free kick awarded. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Benoit Cheyrou from left channel, Branislav Ivanovic manages to make a clearance.
61:57 Substitution (Marseille) makes a substitution, with Andre Ayew coming on for Fabrice Abriel.
61:57 Substitution Lucho Gonzalez joins the action as a substitute, replacing Mathieu Valbuena.
61:15 Substitution Daniel Sturridge is brought on as a substitute for Didier Drogba.
59:57 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joshua McEachran by Leyti N'Diaye. Joshua McEachran restarts play with the free kick.
59:32 Loic Remy concedes a free kick for a foul on Jose Bosingwa. Jose Bosingwa restarts play with the free kick.
58:42 Charles Kabore sends in a cross, blocked by Salomon Kalou.
56:55 Ramires gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Taye Taiwo. Benoit Cheyrou delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing.
55:47 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Florent Malouda, save by Charles Kabore.
55:40 Paulo Ferreira delivers the ball, Taye Taiwo gets a block in.
54:18 Free kick awarded for a foul by Joshua McEachran on Mathieu Valbuena. Benoit Cheyrou takes the direct free kick.
52:36 Mathieu Valbuena concedes a free kick for a foul on Paulo Ferreira. Free kick taken by Paulo Ferreira.
50:44 Unfair challenge on Mathieu Valbuena by Paulo Ferreira results in a free kick. Benoit Cheyrou delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing.
46:51 Florent Malouda takes a shot. Save by Steve Mandanda.
45:01 The game restarts for the second half.
Half Time
45:00+0:23 The players leave the pitch at half time.
44:51 Shot from deep inside the area by Evanilson Brandao goes over the bar.
44:37 The ball is swung over by Mathieu Valbuena, clearance made by John Terry.
43:14 Shot from deep inside the area by Salomon Kalou goes over the bar.
39:30 Florent Malouda is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Charles Kabore restarts play with the free kick.
37:01 A cross is delivered by Charles Kabore, save by Petr Cech.
35:01 The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Petr Cech.
34:08 Unfair challenge on Leyti N'Diaye by Paulo Ferreira results in a free kick. Benoit Cheyrou takes the direct free kick, The ball is delivered by Fabrice Abriel.
33:04 Didier Drogba takes a shot. Taye Taiwo gets a block in.
31:36 Shot by Didier Drogba from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.
28:28 Centre by Mathieu Valbuena.
24:09 Didier Drogba takes a shot. Save made by Steve Mandanda.
23:56 The ball is swung over by Benoit Cheyrou, save by Petr Cech.
22:21 Salomon Kalou produces a right-footed shot from close range which goes wide of the right-hand post.
21:32 Ramires takes a shot from deep inside the box clearing the bar.
20:22 Michael Essien takes a shot. Save by Steve Mandanda.
20:00 Branislav Ivanovic fouled by Loic Remy, the ref awards a free kick. Petr Cech restarts play with the free kick.
16:22 Inswinging corner taken by Florent Malouda from the right by-line.
13:58 Effort from inside the area by Evanilson Brandao misses to the right of the target.
12:12 Leyti N'Diaye has an effort at goal from outside the box missing to the wide left of the goal.
11:43 Jose Bosingwa is caught offside. Free kick taken by Steve Mandanda.
10:46 The ball is sent over by Loic Remy, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Fabrice Abriel misses to the left of the goal.
10:30 Fabrice Abriel takes a shot.
9:51 The assistant referee signals for offside against Salomon Kalou. Steve Mandanda restarts play with the free kick.
7:22 Shot from outside the box by Benoit Cheyrou misses to the left of the goal.
5:56 Fabrice Abriel takes a shot. Blocked by Jose Bosingwa.
3:48 Leyti N'Diaye crosses the ball, Jose Bosingwa manages to make a clearance.
3:24 Evanilson Brandao is ruled offside. Petr Cech takes the indirect free kick.
2:07 Leyti N'Diaye challenges Salomon Kalou unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ramires.
1:26 Evanilson Brandao gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Essien. Free kick taken by Branislav Ivanovic.
0:43 Charles Kabore sends in a cross.
0:00 The match begins.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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