Two weeks after their home defeat against Besiktas, OL almost pulled off a nice hold-up to get back into the Europa League this Thursday evening at the expense of Hoffenheim. Suffering for a long time in this meeting, the Lyonnais who remained in two draws in the league missed the victory by nothing, finally forced to share the points after crazy additional time.
Next to their crampons during a first act played by many usual understudies – and in particular Descamps in the cage, Caqueret and Tessman in midfield or even Mikautadze and Orban in attack – Pierre Sage’s men logically conceded the opening score after returning from the locker room, surprised by Gendrey, a former Amiens resident (1-0, 47e), before the big upheaval that took place at the hour mark.
Meet at Qarabag
Cherki, Fofana, Lacazette and Maitland-Niles then came into play, breathing new impetus into the now more enterprising Gones. Abner quickly equalized (1-1, 66e). And Lacazette, despite the successive German waves on the Rhone goal, gave his team the advantage in added time, with an adjusted recovery in the area (1-2, 90e+4). A little miracle…
Tired for OL, Hoffenheim took advantage of the two minutes that remained to come back to the score, with a final opportunity seized by Tohumcu (2-2, 90e+6). A cold shower for the Lyonnais who at mid-term are no longer among the first eight clubs directly qualified for the round of 16 of the Europa League, ninth two lengths from the precious sesame. To be seen in three weeks after a perilous trip to Qarabag.
