UEL Recap: Injury-time drama sees points shared between Lyon & Hoffenheim
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Two injury-time goals defined this clash between Hoffenheim and Lyon, as Les Gones dropped two points at the last second of the game thanks to a dramatic equaliser from the German club.
The first half saw OL struggle to get into the game, but they weren't punished by a wasteful Hoffenheim side, with chances coming through Kramaric and Gendrey. The hosts then took the lead thanks to Frenchman Valentin Gendrey who scored his first goal in European football for the German club, turning in a low cross just in front of Vinicius Abner (47').
Four changes make an impact
Pierre Sage ran the changes at the hour-mark, with four changes made to his side. Mikautadze, Orban, Benrahma, and Kunmbedi were replaced by Lacazette, Cherki, Fofana, and Maitland-Niles. The impact would be felt right away with Lyon immediately getting the equaliser. Rayan Cherki's strike was blocked, before Abner followed up with a messy strike to equalise for the away side (66').
Les Gones had a chance right at the death as Lacazette was played through on goal and his strike was deflected and cleared off the line. Les Lyonnais then went one step further, and it was of course captain Lacazette who made no mistake with a perfect strike on the swivel which rocketed into the top corner (90+4). With three goals in four Europa League matches, Lacazette was proving himself to be a key man in European competition for Lyon.
But just as OL thought they had won the game, Hoffenheim would score right at the last second, with Tohumcu striking from the edge of the box past Descamps to salvage a point for the Germans (90+5'). A dramatic turnaround for Lyon, who now sit ninth in the Europa League standings.
THE STAT: LACAZETTE AMONG THE GREATS
Alexandre Lacazette has become Lyon's all-time joint top scorer with 18 goals, on par with Juninho.
