L1: Lyon wins and regains hope for Europe, despite its ultras

Under the storm at Décines-Charpieu, the Lyonnais wasted a two-goal advantage scored by Moussa Dembélé (27th) and Thiago Mendes from a free kick, entered with the unfortunate help of Jonas Omlin (43rd), leaving Montpellier to return to the added time in the first period.

But Houssem Aouar (63rd) then Toko Ekambi (68th) put Lyon back in front, despite a spat between some supporters and the Cameroonian striker, apparently shouted down for asking the ultras to be quiet.

"KTE", applauded by other parts of the stadium, managed to ignore it, being the decisive passer at the end of the match for Aouar (90 + 2nd), who dedicated his second goal to him.

Montpellier defender Mamadou Sakho intervenes in front of Cameroonian striker from Lyon Karl Toko-Ekambi, during the 34th day of Ligue 1, April 23, 2022 at Groupama Stadium in Décines-Charpieu OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE AFP

OL (8th, 52 pts) are four points behind the third step of the podium four days from the end and can still hope.

For Montpellier (11th), who has nothing more to lose or hope for this season, that's been four games in a row without a win...

The season is decidedly strange at OL, where the announcer of the Lyon stadium was forced to call on the supporters to respect their players at the end of the match where Lyon were largely leading in the score.

Double d'Aouar

At Décines-Charpieu, OL had a clear mission: to win to give themselves a chance of snatching a European place at the end of the season.

And in the wake of its captain Dembélé, the Rhone club largely dominated the first act, until the deserved opener signed by the French center-forward: Dembélé pierced full axis and served Lucas Paqueta, whose shot country returned to the feet of the attacker, scorer of a cross shot (27th).

The joy of Lyon striker Moussa Dembélé after opening the scoring against Montpellier, during the 34th day of Ligue 1, on April 23, 2022 at Groupama Stadium in Décines-Charpieu OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE AFP

Author of his 16th goal this season in L1, combining well with Lucas Paqueta, Dembélé partly erased his lackluster performance on Wednesday in Brest (2-1 defeat despite a goal scored).

And he was decisive again by obtaining an excellent free kick at the entrance to the area, which Thiago Mendes rolled up perfectly: the ball ricocheted off the crossbar, then on the back of goalkeeper Jonas Omlin (43rd) before crossing the line.

The joy of the Lyonnais after the 2nd goal scored by Brazilian midfielder Thiago Mendes (2nd d) against Montpellier, during the 34th day of Ligue 1, April 23, 2022 at Groupama Stadium in Décines-Charpieu OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE AFP

In short, at 2-0 just before the break, everything seemed to be on the right track for OL, despite the injured exit of Damien Da Silva, replaced by Jérôme Boateng (35th).

And wreckage: the Lyonnais immediately fell back into their trap in the space of three minutes, allowing the Montpellier residents to return to the match, despite having remained in three matches in a row without scoring!

Téji Savanier, after a delicious one-two, launched Elye Wahi into space, a close scorer (45th + 2), then Savanier transformed into force a penalty obtained for a handball from Thiago Mendes (45th + 4), and the MHSC returned to the locker room at 2-2...

Infuriating for OL, and all the more frustrating that, in the pouring rain, Les Gones then multiplied unsuccessful attempts, like Karl Toko-Ekambi finding the post (55th).

It was finally Aouar, recently taken aback by some Lyon supporters, who revived OL by surging up to conclude a collective action from the left (62nd), before scoring the double at the end of the match (90th +2).

© 2022 AFP