Late strikes lift Lyon

Soccerway - 10 November 2006 22:25

Olympique Lyonnais

LYON, Nov 10 (SW) - After falling behind late on, Lyon struck two dramatic goals to deny Valenciennes with a 2-1 win, avoiding a second consecutive defeat.

Lyon were less than convincing last week when they were beaten at Rennes, and they only had one great scoring chance in the first half when Sylvain Wiltord fired just centimeters wide about midway through the first term.

The home side easily controlled the ball, but the Valenciennes defense was frustrating for Lyon as they struggled find the target.

That lack of offensive power would prove costly in the 75th minute when Steve Savidan weaved away from two defenders and then hit a perfect shot into the corner past Grégory Coupet.

But Lyon responded in the 85th minute as Cris, who was one of the defenders beaten on the Savidan goal, as he hit a pinpoint header past Nicolas Penneteau, sparking relieved celebrations at Stade Gerland.

Then, less than a minute later, Cris' fellow defender Sébastien Squillaci tucked home after Penneteau had trouble dealing with an effort from John Carew.