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Gabriel Heinze struck against FC Zurich at the Letzigrund to give Marseille their first points in Group C of the Champions League.

The former Manchester United defender sent an unstoppable right foot volley past Johnny Leoni in the 69th minute to give Didier Deschamps' men three vital points.

Marseille's Laurent Bonnart was given his marching orders before the final whistle for his second booking, but it did not stop l'OM claiming their first European victory in six attempts.

The game got off to a flying start with Marseille bundling the ball into the back of the net inside three minutes.

Lucho Gonzalez teed up Benoit Cheyrou from a free-kick and the midfielder drilled a left-footed shot goalwards.

Leoni parried the effort into the path of Brazilian striker Brandao who turned the loose ball into the net, but his celebrations were cut short by the linesman's flag.

This initial excitement was to prove a false dawn. A high tempo opening descended into a disjointed mess. Misplaced passing was the theme of the opening 45 minutes with quality desperately lacking.

However, the game came to life on the cusp of half-time. From a quick free-kick Cheyrou laid the ball to Mathieu Valbuena on the left who picked out an unmarked Hilton in the box, but he could only head over from close range.

The best chance of the game followed soon after. l'OM captain Mamadou Niang battled his way past two defenders down the right and slid the ball across to the loping Brandao.

Only the flung out right arm of Leoni stopped the striker's toe poke from giving the visitors the lead.

Before the referee called time on the half, Gonzalez and Brandao threatened for Marseille. Two minutes after the restart FC Zurich signalled their intent.

Johan Vonlanthen received the ball on the edge of Marseille's penalty area, before beating his man and unleashing a fierce right foot shot that forced Steve Mandanda into a flying save.

With a sprinkling of urgency the second half was a marked improvement on the first and Marseille took the lead with just over 20 minutes to play.

Another swift free-kick caught Zurich napping, with Gonzalez lofting a deep cross to the back post where Heinze was waiting.

The Argentinian defender didn't disappoint, crashing a right foot volley past the outstretched Leoni and into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

The home side almost drew level immediately. A deep free-kick found Silvan Aegerter ghosting in behind the defence and had it not been for the reflexes of Mandanda the midfielder would have been wheeling away with his arm in the air.

Bernard Challandes threw on all his substitutes in a bid to rescue a point, but Marseille repelled their advances to hang on for the victory.

Deep into injury time Bonnart was sent off for his second bookable offence.

Ben Welch / Eurosport