Lyon 1-2 Marseille: Malo Gusto scores injury-time own goal after Alexandre Lacazette nets 20th goal of season
A last-gasp own goal from Malo Gusto left Lyon heartbroken, as Marseille earned their first victory at the Groupama Stadium since 2007.
Igor Tudor’s side were the dominant side throughout, and it looked like a stunning display from goalkeeper Anthony Lopes would earn his side a point, only for a sucker punch deep into added time to settle the scores.
The result moves Marseille up into second in Ligue 1, eight points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
Football
Barcelona to continue Hegerberg pursuit despite rejected bids – reports
12/04/2023 AT 17:27
A dreadful first half briefly awoke from its slumber when visiting forward Ruslan Malinovskyi clattered wide with the first shot of the match 27 minutes, while Jordan Veretout was denied by Lopes, either side of Alexandre Lacazette firing over from close range at the other end.
Chances were clearly few and far between, but Marseille did take the lead before the break when Cengiz Under converted on the rebound after Alexis Sanchez’s initial shot had been saved.
That goal failed to get a reaction from Lyon after the break, as they continued in insipid fashion, but Marseille were much more lively as they attempted to kill the game off. Jonathan Clauss and Under had chances to extend their lead, but each were denied by Lopes, who was in fine form.
They were left regretting those missed chances as the hosts equalised out of nowhere with just over 20 minutes left when Lacazette netted his 20th goal of the season.
There was more to come from Lopes though, who again denied Clauss, this time tipping onto the bar, but he could do nothing to keep out Gusto’s own goal in the 92nd minute, when a clearance hit the substitute and bobbled into the net.
TALKING POINT – Marseille boost Champions League hopes
For a long time it looked like Marseille’s chances of finishing in the top three were going to hit an untimely bump, but a last-gasp own goal moves them back up to second.
It was no more than the visitors deserved, but their finishing must surely improve if they are to end the campaign above Lens and Monaco.
Even so, they showed great resilience and heart to continue pushing until the end, leaving Lyon heartbroken.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Anthony Lopes (Lyon). The Lyon goalkeeper was the standout player on the pitch by some distance, and he is the only reason his side nearly stole a point.
The Portugal international made a string of fine saves after the break to continually frustrate a Marseille side who were banging down the door for a second, but were thwarted at every turn.
The best stop of the lot was arguably when he rushed off his line to prevent a shooting opportunity for Alexis Sanchez, and in the end it was only an own goal that would split the sides.
PLAYER RATINGS
LYON: Lopes 9; Diomande 5, Lovren 5, Lukeba 6, Tagliafico 6; Mendes 6, Caqueret 5, Tolisso 5; Cherki 4, Lacazette 6, Barcola 4. Subs: Gusto n/a, Lepenant n/a, Jeffinho n/a
MARSEILLE: Lopez 6; Gigot 7, Balerdi 7, Kolasinac 6; Kabore 7, Clauss 6, Veretout 6, Rongier 6, Malinovski 6; Under 7, Sanchez 7. Subs: Vitinha n/a
KEY MOMENTS
29’ OVER THE BAR. Glorious chance for Lacazette, who stretched near the six yard line and converts high over the bar after getting on the end of a terrific Tagliafico cross
44’ GOAL! LYON 0-1 MARSEILLE (UNDER). Deadlock broken and Groupama Stadium silenced! Sanchez charges onto a terrific ball over the top and forces Lopes into a good low save, but he can only push the ball into the path of Under, who converts into the bottom corner
48’ LOPES SAVES. That’s an excellent stop from the Lyon goalkeeper, who gets down low to his right to deny Jonathan Clauss with his feet
67’ SUPERB LOPES SAVE. Anthony Lopes is the only man keeping the score down. Under is picked out in the box and eyes the bottom corner, but the goalkeeper comes off his line to narrow the angle before making an excellent stop down to his left
68’ GOAL! LYON 1-1 MARSEILLE (Lacazette). Out of nowhere, the hosts are level through Alexandre Lacazette, who gets his 20th of the season! He dives in to stab home an excellent cross from deep, beating Veretout to the ball and finding the back of the net
76’ OH MY WORD! WHAT A SAVE! That is sensational from Lopes! Clauss must score again, but the ‘keeper somehow tips on to the bar as he denies the forward who was through one-on-one
90+2’ GOAL! LYON 1-2 MARSEILLE (OWN GOAL). What a sucker punch! Lyon hearts are broken right at the death as an attempted clearance hits Gusto and goes into the back of the net.
KEY STATS
- Lyon have now managed only two wins in their last nine home league matches
- This was Marseille’s first win away to Lyon in 17 attempts, having lost 10 and drawn six of their 16 visits since 2007
Ligue 1
Marseille lose ground on PSG in Ligue 1 title race with drab draw at Lorient
09/04/2023 AT 18:03
Ligue 1
Lyon stun PSG as pressure mounts on Galtier
02/04/2023 AT 18:13
Read the full article Here