Décines-Charpieu (France) (AFP)

Author of the draw against RB Leipzig (2-2) on Tuesday at Parc OL, the Dutchman Memphis Depay sent Lyon to the last 16 of the Champions League and saved his club from a cruel disillusion.

Once again, the Lyon captain was decisive in finding the opening of a pivotal shot in the 82nd minute after a center delivered from the left wing by Martin Terrier and deflected by the head by Moussa Dembélé.

Until then, the Dutch international had not been very successful despite good involvement and especially just before the tying goal on a great opportunity with a shot on which the goalkeeper Gulasci interposed (82).

But it has scored his fifth goal in C1 this season to which added the nine scored in the league, the first two against Nimes (4-0) Friday. The injury to a thigh that had taken him off court for a month seems well behind him.

- Garcia pleads for Memphis -

This physical glitch, contracted in the selection, had also seriously criticized coach Rudi Garcia. And for good reason, he knows that OL is less successful without its star striker.

"All teams with players of the quality of Memphis are teams capable of making differences," said Garcia Monday in a press conference, happy to find his spearhead in great shape.

For his part, the striker Lyonnais had not denied his responsibilities "to deliver a great performance and to be exemplary".

Criticized for his inconstancy, Depay seems to have finally found his rhythm since Rudi Garcia has definitively awarded him for the season the captain's armband.

He likes to be invested with responsibilities and to feel important.

On the technical side, his position at the heart of the game, behind the leading striker, Moussa Dembélé, gives him a greater influence.

Last season, Liverpool's failed transfer of Nabil Fekir, who also enjoys a central position, was a problem to be handled by coach Bruno Genesio throughout the season as the technical relationship between the two players was not obvious.

Although they were decisive more than once, their performances throughout the season were questionable.

"I have always had some talent in this position with a certain speed, I feel good but it is not a problem of preference.Any place will put me the coach, I would do the job ", he said Monday.

"We know what this game will require of me and how important it is.We will need to give everything to qualify," he said again referring to "the matches we want to play."

"It will show that desire and seize this opportunity," he said.

And Memphis Depay was there, at the right moment to put the two teams on a level playing field.

© 2019 AFP