Monday, December 8, 2014

Lyon scores a dramatic win over Evian Thonon Gaillard 3-2


Lyon snatch late win at Evian

Lyon had to twice come from behind before snatching a 3-2 Ligue 1 victory over Evian in injury time.
Cedric Barbosa put Evian 1-0 and 2-1 up but Alexandre Lacazette, whose free-kick led to the first equaliser from Yassine Benzia, scored twice in the final 10 minutes to turn the game Lyon's way.
Lacazette's shot led to Reims goalkeeper Johnny Placide's own goal which handed Lyon another stoppage-time winner on Tuesday and the Ligue 1 top scorer's late intervention here returned his side to third in the table.
Home goalkeeper Jesper Hansen was the star of the first half, keeping out Steed Malbranque's shot after the midfielder was set up by Lacazette and then producing a fine double save from Benzia.
Against the run of play, Evian were awarded a free-kick in the 28th minute and Barbosa - leading the line in the absence of key man Daniel Wass - fired the ball into the top corner to leave keeper Anthony Lopes helpless.
And they could have gone in at half-time two goals to the good, but Modou Sougou steered Clarck Nsikulu's cross just wide of the post.
As it was, though, Lyon levelled shortly after the hour. Again the goal came from a free-kick, Lacazette's effort saved by Hansen but Benzia following up to score.
Barbosa quickly restored Evian's lead as Nsikulu crossed to Sougou, who teed up the fast-arriving Barbosa for a left-foot finish.
Hansen made a stunning save when Lacazette headed Nabil Fekir's cross goalwards.
But he was beaten in the 81st minute when Rachid Ghezzal swung a corner to the far post and Lacazette controlled before firing ferociously under the crossbar to level the scores.
Sougou and Fekir missed chances to win the game for their respective sides but Lyon were handed their chance from the spot in stoppage time.
Adrien Thomasson was harshly adjudged to have handled Christophe Jallet's cross and Lacazette, who missed a penalty in last week's 3-0 defeat to bitter rivals St Etienne, held his nerve this time to send Hansen the wrong way and notch his 13th league goal of the season.