Lyon end winless run in style

AFP, PARIS: Lyon celebrated the inauguration of their new 59,000-seater stadium with a 4-1 victory over bottom side Troyes on Saturday, snapping a six-game winless run in Ligue 1.
Alexandre Lacazette wrote his name into the history books by scoring the first goal at Parc OL to give Lyon an 18th-minute lead, but Fabien Camus silenced the home fans with a stunning equaliser midway through the second half.
However, Lyon went back in front courtesy of a fine Rachid Ghezzal strike on 72 minutes before Jordan Ferri and Claudio Beauvue added late goals to clinch a first league win for OL in two months.
Lyon had limped into the winter break after picking up just one point from six matches, with Genesio stepping up from his backroom role to take over from Hubert Fournier.
They climbed up to sixth following Saturday’s victory, while Troyes did little to dispel the likelihood of an immediate return to the second tier, having yet to win 20 matches into the season.
Lyon romped to a 7-0 win over fifth-tier Limoges in the French Cup last weekend to rebuild some confidence, and the hosts went ahead again as Lacazette held off a defender before steering past Paul Bernardoni for his seventh goal of the season.
But Troyes, who had recorded three straight draws in the league, pulled level on 67 minutes when Camus fired a swerving long-range shot past Anthony Lopes.
However, Lyon regained the lead five minutes later as Ghezzal swivelled inside the area and struck a sweet left-footed effort beyond Bernardoni.
Ferri then thumped home a third goal on 81 minutes after an inviting lay-off from Clement Grenier with Beauvue heading in a fourth in stoppage time.
Elsewhere, Monaco needed a Fabinho penalty and a goal from veteran Portuguese defender Ricardo Carvalho to salvage a 2-2 draw at home to Gazelec Ajaccio, after the visitors had taken control through first-half strikes from Khalid Boutaib and John Tshibumbu.
Pierrick Capelle and Billy Ketkeophomphone were on target for Angers in a 2-0 win over Caen that bumped the hosts back up to second place, a point ahead of Monaco.
Rennes fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at home to Lorient as France playmaker Yoann Gourcuff, who joined Rennes as a free agent in November, made his first appearance in 10 months.

 

Lyon end winless run in style

AFP, PARIS: Lyon celebrated the inauguration of their new 59,000-seater stadium with a 4-1 victory over bottom side Troyes on Saturday, snapping a six-game winless run in Ligue 1. Alexandre Lacazette wrote his name into the history books by scoring the first goal at Parc OL to give Lyon an 18th-minute lead, but Fabien Camus silenced the home fans with a stunning equaliser midway through the second half. However, Lyon went back in front courtesy of a fine Rachid Ghezzal strike on 72 minutes before Jordan Ferri and Claudio Beauvue added late goals to clinch a first league win for OL in two months. Lyon had limped into the winter break after picking up just one point from six matches, with Genesio stepping up from his backroom role to take over from Hubert Fournier. They climbed up to sixth following Saturdays victory, while Troyes did little to dispel the likelihood of an immediate return to the second tier, having yet to win 20 matches into the season. Lyon romped to a 7-0 win over fifth-tier Limoges in the French Cup last weekend to rebuild some confidence, and the hosts went ahead again as Lacazette held off a defender before steering past Paul Bernardoni for his seventh goal of the season. But Troyes, who had recorded three straight draws in the league, pulled level on 67 minutes when Camus fired a swerving long-range shot past Anthony Lopes. However, Lyon regained the lead five minutes later as Ghezzal swivelled inside the area and struck a sweet left-footed effort beyond Bernardoni. Ferri then thumped home a third goal on 81 minutes after an inviting lay-off from Clement Grenier with Beauvue heading in a fourth in stoppage time. Elsewhere, Monaco needed a Fabinho penalty and a goal from veteran Portuguese defender Ricardo Carvalho to salvage a 2-2 draw at home to Gazelec Ajaccio, after the visitors had taken control through first-half strikes from Khalid Boutaib and John Tshibumbu. Pierrick Capelle and Billy Ketkeophomphone were on target for Angers in a 2-0 win over Caen that bumped the hosts back up to second place, a point ahead of Monaco. Rennes fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at home to Lorient as France playmaker Yoann Gourcuff, who joined Rennes as a free agent in November, made his first appearance in 10 months.