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Lyon were held to their second draw in four days by Lens at the Stade Gerland on Wednesday thanks to a brilliant display from visiting 'keeper Charles Itandje.
In seven seasons with Lyon ‘keeper Grégory Coupet had conceded just two goals against Lens at the Stade Gerland, but the visitors made it three after just six minutes when giant defender Adama Coulibaly out-climbed Lyon’s Brazilian defender Cris and powered his header home from eight metres out.
After a nonchalent start, the goal seemed to spur Lyon into action and the champions poured forward lin search of a quick reply.
They almost got it in curious fashion when the lively Florent Malouda cut back his chip from the by-line where it was met by the head of Tiago. Itandje made to shepherd the ball out and was surprised to see it bounce back into play off the upright. From the resulting corner kick Lyon captain Claudio Caçapa sent his free header wide of the mark.
Lens had been warned and it was no surprise when the equaliser came on 38 minutes.
Again it was Tiago, this time profiting from good work down the right from Sidney Govou, who took one touch on the edge of the area before rifling a left-foot shot goalward. Lens’ Brazilian defender Hilton tried to block the shot but only succeeded in deflecting the ball beyond the despairing dive of Itandje.
Moments later the champions had the ball in the back of the net courtesy of a stunning Benoît Pedretti strike only for the referee, Mr Ledentu, to rule the effort out for an offside against Malouda.
After the break the hosts continued in determined fashion, carving out chance after chance while the visitors contented themselves by grouping bodies behind the ball and hoping to hit on the counter.
Fred should have given Lyon the lead when he headed wide on 52 minutes with only Itandje to beat.
With ten minutes left on the clock Lyon stepped up to overdrive in search of the winning goal that would send them four points clear at the top of the table.
Itandje first did brilliantly to deny Tiago his second deflected goal of the evening. The 'keeper then somehow kept out Juninho Pernambucano’s long-range effort before denying Caçapa early in stoppage time.
Ultimately it was Lens who had the chance to steal all three points with the last kick of the match when Daniel Cousin, perfectly set-up by substitute Eric Carrière, saw his shot flash the wrong side of the post.
Despite being held to their second consecutive draw, Lyon extend their lead at the top to two points over Paris Saint-Germain while Lens dislodge Saint-Etienne from fourth spot on goal-difference with 13 points.
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