Lacazette double sees Lyon back to winning ways
Match Reports
In a clash of two Ligue 1 McDonald's sides with European ambitions, Olympique Lyonnais came from behind to beat Stade Brestois 2-1. Alexandre Lacazette notched a double for the hosts, who had conceded the opener on penalty converted by Kenny Lala.
Honors even
While Lyon had made a few changes ahead of a midweek match in Europe, with Nemanja Matic and Ernest Nuamah both rested, Brest, still looking to get back in the mix for Europe, lined up with a first-choice eleven. The match started at breakneck pace, with Brest taking the game to the home side with a run of chances to keep Lucas Perri under pressure. That pressure would soon tell as Lyon conceded a penalty with Mahdi Camara brought down in the box. Veteran right back Kenny Lala stepped up to convert, and the Bretons were a goal to the good inside fifteen minutes.
A response from Lyon wasn't long in coming, though -- Lacazette drew his side level with a clever chipped finish to beat Marco Bizot and even the match midway through the first half. Both sides worked hard to give themselves the lead, and Brest came close to doing so on the half hour, with Abdallah Sima's header just flashing over the bar, but the match remained level at the break.
9th goal in Ligue 1 for the eternal Lacazette đŠđ«đ· pic.twitter.com/lY2sdkg14C
â Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) March 2, 2025
Late drama!
Into the second 45 minutes, it was more of the same, and the encounter looked to be heading to a draw. With less than ten minutes from time, though, Lyon were back in front, with Lacazette nipping ahead of his marker to turn in Rayan Cherki's clipped cross at the near post, the veteran scoring a double in Ligue 1 McDonald's for the first time since early December.
In stoppage time, Brest were excruciatingly close to an equalizer, as Abdallah Sima attempted to chip Perri to find Ludovic Ajorque, but the Brazilian gathered to preserve the result. Moments later, a scramble in the box resulted in more of the same -- Lyon struggled to clear the ball, but Camara was unable to turn the ball in. On the play, which was reviewed by VAR, Paulo Fonseca, incensed with a review for a penalty, was sent off but his side would hold on for the three points after an incredible 11 minutes of added time.
With the result, Lyon widened the gap between themselves in sixth and Strasbourg in seventh to five points ahead of the latter's match later in the day, while Brest were a provisional ninth. Lyon will hope to keep their good form going midweek in the UEFA Europa as they travel to face FCSB, while Brest are next in action against Breton rivals Angers on Sunday.
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