Lyon stage Houdini act to reach cup final
Reuters - Tuesday 31 January 2012, 22:39
Extra-time goals by
Bafetimbi Gomis and Alexandre Lacazette earned Olympique Lyon a
place in the French League Cup final after staging a dramatic
comeback from 2-0 down to win 4-2 at Lorient on Tuesday.
Jimmy Briand of Lyon had set up the additional half-hour by
making it 2-2 four minutes into injury time.
Lyon will meet holders Olympique Marseille or Nice, who play
on Wednesday, at the Stade de France on April 14.
Lorient were the better side for more than an hour but
Lacazette's first goal of the night 10 minutes from time spurred
Lyon into action.
The home side had to wait until the 59th minute to take the
lead, Innocent Emeghara dribbling past defender Cris to score.
Kevin Monnet-Paquet made it 2-0 in the 68th when the Lyon
defence failed to clear in the area, leaving the midfielder free
to beat keeper Hugo Lloris with a powerful angled drive.
Lyon's rearguard looked vulnerable throughout and they came
close to conceding a third when Maxime Barthelme's shot was
cleared off the line by Anthony Reveillere.
Lacazette pulled one back for the visitors with a low drive
from just inside the box before France striker Briand headed the
equaliser.
Lyon went in front when Gomis benefited from a defensive
error to beat goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte from close range in the
102nd minute and Lacazette completed victory in the dying
seconds.