OL squandered a two-goal lead and conceded a draw against Clermont (3-3). A goal from Lucas Paqueta and a brace from Moussa Dembélé made the difference for a long time but Elbasan Rashani equalized in the last moments to deprive the Gones of a first victory in L1 this Sunday.
Obviously, the messages from the supporters and Peter Bosz were not well heard by the OL players. Taken to task by the ultras this week, authors of a scathing banner, and criticized by their Dutch coach after the rout against Angers, the Lyonnais again conceded a draw against Clermont this Sunday during the third day of Ligue 1 (3- 3).
Without Marcelo, removed from the pro group, but with rookies Emerson and Damien Da Silva launched from the start, the club dear to President Aulas finally believed to launch its 2021-2022 campaign but squandered a two-goal lead in the final.
Dembélé regains confidence
Swept by Angers last weekend (3-0), the Gones rushed in attack from the first minutes of this duel against the promoted. Aligned in the right lane, Lucas Paqueta delivered a love of center but the head of Houssem Aouar passed little by little. Not discouraged, the proteges of Peter Bosz continued to push.
Served in the Clermont area, Moussa Dembélé saw his full-axis strike repelled by Arthur Desmas. By immediately recovering the ball, the striker obtained a logical penalty for a foul by Johan Gastien. Without trembling, Moussa Dembélé himself took charge of transforming (1-0, 4th) and launching the reconquest operation. The 25-year-old had not scored a goal since November 29, 2020 and success against Reims in L1. A period of shortage of more than eight months and marked in particular by a disappointing loan to Atlético in La Liga.
After this ideal start to the match, the locals continued to attack and only a slight lack of control on a flat foot prevented Houssem Aouar from finding the frame and scoring the goal of the break. In the wake of this second failure of the leader of OL, Clermont raised his head and stopped the Rhone in their tracks. On the first corner of the match in favor of the Auvergnats, the young Sinaly Diomandé (20 years old) was jostled by Cédric Hountondji in his aerial duel and deceived his own goalkeeper Anthony Lopes with the head (1-1, 11th).
Fortunately for Lyon, Moussa Dembélé seemed particularly motivated to make up for it after his poor performances against Brest and Angers. After the intervention of the VAR for a potential offside of the passer, the striker trained at PSG signed his double with a nice shot at close range following a first parade from Desmas (2-1, 20th).
The collective jewel concluded by Paqueta
In order to take shelter definitively before half-time, and thus confirm the good intentions of the team, the Lyonnais further accelerated a few moments before the break. On a superb collective movement, Lucas Paqueta regaled and offered OL two goals in advance.
The Brazilian has found his compatriot Bruno Guimaraes. With a nice heel, the Olympic gold medalist found his partner with a nice heel. Lucas Paqueta again played in first intention towards Houssem Aouar. After a new one-two with the leader of the France Espoirs team, the international Auriverde quietly adjusted Arthur Desmas (3-1, 45th). Lacking rhythm and ideas during their first two outings in L1, the Rhone squad showed great things during this first act, which was generally under control.
As soon as he returned from the locker room, Lucas Paqueta could also have gone for his double following a bad pass from Auvergne captain Jonathan Iglesias. But the Brazilian rushed too hard and sent his shot into the turn.
Rashani takes advantage of Lyon’s failures
Quite serene so far, and rarely worried, the Lyonnais still missed the boat. Entered in the place of Lucas Paqueta, applauded by the public, Tino Kadewere missed a huge opportunity.
And on the counter, the incoming Elbasan Rashani reduced the gap with a beautiful ball stung (3-2, 81st). Double blow for OL with the injury of Damien Da Silva on this achievement of the Swede.
Forced out, and replaced by Jason Denayer, the central defender then saw his team collapse in the last moments of the match.
Taking advantage of a nice counter to play, OL missed a huge opportunity to kill all suspense. Rather incomprehensibly, Houssem Aouar stole the ball from Karl Toko-Ekambi who was going to offer himself a duel against the Clermont goalkeeper. The Gones playmaker then completely missed his shot. A few minutes later, on a final corner from the visitors, Elbsasan Rashani scored his second goal of the day and snatched an almost unexpected equalizer in view of the scenario of the meeting (90th + 1).
Clermont remain undefeated, OL are still trampling
Applied and keen to build, Clermont was trapped for a long time by the Lyon furia this Sunday at Groupama Stadium. After two victories in the elite, the promoted Auvergnant suffered for a long time but ended up taking a precious point.
Top scorer in the championship with three goals, Mohamed Bayo failed to shine. On the contrary, the Clermont striker was perfectly channeled by the duo Diomandé-Da Silva. But it is especially in defense that Pascal Gastien’s players showed their limits this Sunday.
Clermont leaves the PSG escape at the top of the standings. But by avoiding the first setback in its history in the elite, the club continues above all its series of invincibility. The promoted could also leave the podium in the event of success for Angers, Lorient, Nantes or if the Nice-OM duel gives birth to a winner.
Play-off before this meeting, OL still can’t do it in Ligue 1. After a sluggish start, Lyon seemed to find great collective strength but ended up breaking down.
The staff, the leaders and the supporters waited for a start, the players complied before finally slacking off. In the space of a few minutes, the congratulations that were looming could well turn into another admonition from Peter Bosz. It will now be necessary to count on a victory in Nantes, next Friday, at the opening of the fourth day to finally launch the Lyon season. Or at least try.
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