Lyon Leave It Late to Beat 10-Man Strasbourg in Ligue 1

Afonso Moreira scored a spectacular last-minute winner as Lyon clinched a vital 2-1 home victory over 10-man Strasbourg in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

Liam Rosenior’s youthful side took the lead at the Groupama Stadium through Joaquin Panichelli, before Ismael Doukoure turned the ball into his own net and was later sent off for a dangerous tackle. Lyon captain Corentin Tolisso missed a first-half penalty, leaving the hosts frustrated as they looked to break into the top four.

However, substitute Moreira’s dramatic late strike sealed all three points, sending Lyon up to fourth place on 18 points, while Strasbourg slipped to seventh, two points adrift.

“It was important to win after the last two matches (back-to-back league defeats). There is pride in having rediscovered our team spirit,” said Lyon assistant coach Jorge Maciel.

A victory for Strasbourg would have lifted them into second place behind reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain, who defeated Brest 3-0 on Saturday.

Match Summary

Strasbourg took the lead after 25 minutes when Panichelli expertly glanced home a header at the end of an impressive team move.

Their advantage, however, lasted just six minutes as Doukoure turned Malick Fofana’s cross into his own goal.

Lyon had a golden opportunity to take the lead shortly before the break when referee Jérôme Brisard adjudged Valentin Barco to have fouled Tolisso inside the area. Following an on-pitch VAR review, the decision stood — but goalkeeper Mike Penders, having taken advice from his backroom staff during the delay, denied Tolisso with a smart leg save in the 42nd minute, ensuring the scores remained level at half-time.

VAR again played a major role midway through the second half when Doukoure’s afternoon went from bad to worse. His yellow card for a late tackle from behind on Fofana was upgraded to a straight red following a review.

The injured Belgian was stretchered off with an ankle injury, prompting concern from Lyon’s camp.

“He’s having X-rays done, but for now, we don’t really know. Judging by the images, it doesn’t look good,” Maciel later confirmed.

Despite being reduced to 10 men, Strasbourg defended bravely and looked set to hold on for a valuable away point.

However, substitute Moreira, who replaced the injured Fofana, produced a moment of brilliance in the 91st minute, curling a sublime effort from the left side of the box into the far top corner to snatch victory for the hosts.

Elsewhere in Ligue 1

Earlier in the day, Lille delivered a stunning second-half display to thrash bottom side Metz 6-1.

Goals from Hamza Igamane and Felix Correia gave the hosts control before the interval, and Bruno Genesio’s men added four more after the break. Correia bagged his second, with Romain Perraud, Benjamin Andre, and Hakon Haraldsson also getting on the scoresheet. Ibou Sane struck a late consolation for winless Metz.

“We’re just not good enough,” admitted Metz midfielder Gauthier Hein. “They’re running rings around us — we simply don’t have the answers.”

Elsewhere, Rennes thought they had secured a stoppage-time equaliser at home to Nice, but Mohamed Kader Meite’s goal was ruled out for offside in the build-up, leaving Nice 2-1 winners.

Angers climbed out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 victory over Lorient, thanks to goals from 18-year-olds Prosper Peter and Sidiki Cherif, while Auxerre dropped into the bottom three following a 1-0 defeat to Le Havre.