Décines-Charpieu (France) (AFP)

A goal by Houssem Aouar scored at the end of a low-level match enabled Lyon to qualify for the semi-finals of the French Cup against Marseille, whose invincibility series started in late October ended on Wednesday in the Rhône.

The Marseillais will have held 16 meetings in all competitions without bowing from the fall slap received against Paris SG at the Parc des Princes (4-0).

Aouar, on the right side, on the edge of offside, served by Bertrand Traoré entered in the 77th minute, managed to find the opening of a powerful shot (81) while his team was in check offensively.

It is the 13th time that OL have reached this level of competition and the second in a row.

But Lyon still delivered a rather dull match against a private OM, like its adversary besides, of several holders.

A performance in line with those played this season despite an upturn in early 2020.

This mediocrity in the game makes hypothetical a European qualification by the championship for OL, 9th of the classification, relegated to 16 points from Marseille (2nd) and the groups of ultra supporters had, during the day, put pressure on Garcia.

Unless you succeed in the "Ascension" hoped for by Jean-Michel Aulas, there remain the national cups where Olympique Lyonnais is still in the race, except if the Rhone club wins the Champions League, which still seems improbable.

OL are already in the final of the Coupe de la Ligue for which they will face Paris Saint-Germain, and there is this Coupe de France on which the Stade de France can also be considered. You will then have to take the last step, of course.

Overall, against OM, which proved to be fairly harmless, OL still deserves its qualification despite a rudimentary collective game and major technical shortcomings in all areas.

- Pelé stops a penalty -

In the first period, the Lyonnais could already have scored on an action led by Aouar on the right wing but whose center could not be taken over by Martin Terrier (30) who missed the takeover of a center by Kenny Tete a minute later.

After half time, a shot from Maxence Caqueret was diverted by Alvaro Gonzalez (57) before Karl Toko Ekambi got a penalty on a diverted shot by Hiroki Sakai.

However, Moussa Dembelé missed his attempt, stopped by Yohan Pelé (70).

It is also the three times this season that the Lyon striker fails on a penalty after the matches in Nantes in the French Cup in January, and in Reims in December.

At the end of the game, Fernando Marçal, who entered in the 85th minute, who had scored against his camp Sunday in Paris, this time saved his team from Marseille equalization by taking the ball in Marley's feet in extremis Ake in additional time (90 + 2).

© 2020 AFP