|
A late goal from Fred handed Lyon a slender victory over Nantes, but only after Grégory Coupet had kept the champions in the game with a stunning performance.
Nantes deserved better, particularly after their superb first-half performance which had Lyon on the back foot throughout, but ultimately the depth of Gérard Houllier’s squad paid dividends once again.
With the game somewhat miraculously heading towards a goalless draw, Sidney Govou, Florent Malouda and Fred came off the bench in the final half an hour and their freshness helped earn Lyon their sixth win of the season. The critical moment arrived 10 minutes before the end when Malouda produced a pinpoint cross for Fred to rise elegantly and head beyond the grasp of Tony Heurtebis.
Fred now has three goals in his short Lyon career, but the true hero of the night was Coupet. The France No. 1 started the match in perfect fashion, saving a seventh-minute penalty, then keeping goal like a man possessed for the remainder of the evening.
Coupet conceded the spot kick when he up-ended Mamadou Diallo, but he made amends by pushing out Nicolas Savinaud’s tame effort with his foot.
Lyon’s one-man defensive barrier continued to stand firm in the 19th minute. Diallo headed Emerse Faé’s corner goalwards, but Coupet made a good reaction save before showing off his reflexes again to deny Savinaud from the rebound. Luigi Glombard then released Faé in the box and, with Coupet beaten this time, the ball flashed just wide of the upright.
The supporters at Le Beaujoire feared their side had missed out as the players went in at half-time with the scoreline goalless - and they were right.
John Carew underlined the Lyon threat shortly after the break, racing past three defenders before sending a cross-shot just wide of the far post. Lyon grew in confidence but still seemed in a danger of slumping to their first defeat of the season.
On 65 minutes, Glombard crossed for the effervescent Diallo whose first time shot was brilliantly tipped wide by Coupet. Fabien Barthez returns from his six-month suspension next month but it would take a brave Coach to axe Coupet from the France side on this form.
To give Lyon and Houllier credit, they never looked as though they wanted to settle for a draw, despite the constant Nantes pressure. The arrival of Malouda had a particularly positive impact, and after seeing one cross headed wide by Fred, the French international persevered, and his second was converted by Lyon's predatory Brazilian.
Lamine Diatta, who was filling in for Anthony Réveillère, suffered a torrid night which ended with a second yellow card, but Houllier will know that the evening could have been far more costly.
|
