Football: OL, led by Alexandre Lacazette, finally win at home
OL, led by captain Alexandre Lacazette, who scored a hat-trick, secured their second win of the season (10-3) against Toulouse on Sunday 0 December, the first at home, on Matchday 15 of Ligue 1, keeping their hopes of survival alive.
Alexandre Lacazette scored a hat-trick to give OL victory over Toulouse in Ligue 1 on December 10, 2023. AFP - OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE
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OL remain in last place, but delivered by far their best performance since the start of the championship, under the eyes of the current owner, John Textor, and the former owner, Jean-Michel Aulas, present together in the presidential stand for the first time since 27 May. With their win against Toulouse (3-0), Lyon are now one point behind Clermont, second to last and 17th, who drew with Lille (0-0) and three points behind their opponents of the day (15th), first non-relegation place.
After coming through in Marseille (3-0 defeat) in the late match of the 10th matchday, on Wednesday, this victory for Lyon, in a crucial match for their future in the top flight, converts into points the progress glimpsed in Lens (3-2 defeat), on December 2 for the first time on the bench of Pierre Sage, for the moment interim coach. As in Bollaert, OL, who won for the first time at home since May 27 against Reims (3-0), showed a consistent face by playing with great generosity.
🫡 A hat-trick and the Player of the Match trophy #OLTFC @easportsfcfr for General @LacazetteAlex! 🔴🔵
Tag someone in the comments to try to win the game #FC24 signed by our captain 🎁 https://t.co/cRXaxJZmKA pic.twitter.com/8Lgelujkle
— Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) December 10, 2023
This could argue in favour of Sage's retention amid rumours of the possible arrival of Argentine Jorge Sampaoli or Bruno Genesio on the bench. In a 3-5-2 formation with the trio of Duje Caleta-Car, Dejan Lovren and Jake O'Brien in central defence, it was the much-maligned managers who were present such as Corentin Tolisso, Maxence Caqueret, in midfield, and especially up front with Alexandre Lacazette who finally carried his teammates by scoring all three Lyon goals.
He opened the scoring after a first header from O'Brien from a corner (25′) before completing the brace by taking a first shot from Tolisso that hit the post after a free-kick from Rayan Cherki was poorly cleared by the Toulouse defence (29′).
The penalty that could have turned everything on its head
Thereafter, Lyon held on to their lead as best they could, sometimes with a bit of success. Anthony Lopes saved a penalty from Thijs Dallinga that he had conceded himself for a foul on Gabriel Suazo (45+2). The second half was dominated by TFC who created a few chances through Frank Magri which Lopes saved (47', 60').
But Lacazette was again dangerous against Guillaume Restes (67′) before making it 3-0 at the end of the game by heading home a shot from Mahamadou Diawara from close range that was poorly cleared by the Toulouse defence for his sixth goal of the season. On the other hand, OL did not concede a goal for the fourth time this season, after the draws against Nice and Le Havre (0-0) and the victory at Rennes (1-0).
(
With AFP)
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