PORTO-LYON. Thanks to a goal from Lucas Paqueta, Olympique Lyonnais won the round of 16 first leg of the Europa League on the lawn of FC Porto. A precious success that allows you to take an option on qualification for the quarter-finals.
21:05 – Thank you
Thank you all for having followed us for this live commentary having seen the historic victory of Olympique Lyonnais on the lawn of the FC Porto (1-0) in the round of 16 first leg of the Europa League. The two teams will meet for the return leg in eight days, on Thursday March 17, in Lyon.
21:03 – Lyon remain undefeated
Olympique Lyonnais continues its perfect season in the Europa League and has a record of 6 wins and 1 draw in 7 matches played in the competition.
20:59 – The good shot of OL in Porto
After this evening, it will be difficult for the Lyonnais to complain again against the video assistance because this round of 16 first leg to Porto will have been summed up, by simplifying, in a story of video. The one that initially was favorable to the men of Peter Bosz and Lucas Paqueta. On an opening from Emerson on the left side, Toko Ekambi initiated a one-touch move when he found Dembele pivoting in the box. The former Cletic Glasgow deviated with a heel and found his Brazilian teammate, who with a flat left foot deceived Diogo Costa and the entire Portuguese defense. Lyon’s happiness lasted for a moment before the flag indicated an offside for Dembélé, invalidated after a few seconds by the VAR. New explosion of joy for Les Gones, taking the lead on the hour mark. An advantage that could have been short-lived because in the process, the same Paqueta believed in a bad film when he saw a ball cleared by Mendes coming to him bouncing on the thigh then on the arm. Mr. Sanchez indicated the penalty spot, to the satisfaction of the Dragao public. At this moment, while the Brazilian midfielder lowered his head unhappy to jeopardize what had been so hard won, the video referee called his compatriot and asked him to review the images. This revealed that the hand of the Lyonnais was involuntary. The penalty was canceled and the Dragao howled his anger.
The third act of the tragedy took place after added time. In the 95th minute, on a free kick played long from the halfway line, Mbemba took advantage that Toni Martinez and Lukeba missed the ball in their duel to deceive Lopes closely. The Dragao and the Portuguese people capsized from this outcome but once again Mr. Sanches was called and the images revealed to him that the Spanish striker had touched the ball from the top of the skull and that at this moment, the scorer was off. Game. After all these emotions, Lyon could finally breathe and let their joy burst out at having pulled off a great coup by coming to win at Porto, which only, among French clubs, FC Nantes had succeeded in… 1971. Long hampered by the technical mastery of the men of Conceiçao, the Lyonnais were able to face up, thanking Anthony Lopes and his flights on the attempts of Vitinha and Pepê in particular, before managing to take the physical ascendancy in the second half. However, this Lyon success is in no way a guarantee because FC Porto and its hot technician will go to the banks of the Rhône on March 17, with the intention of reversing the situation and seeing the quarter-finals. OL only did half the job, but a good half. Thank you VAR.
20:53 – Lyon joins Nantes
We mentioned it during the match, with this victory in the round of 16 first leg, Olympique Lyonnais enters the very closed circle of French clubs having triumphed in the North of Portugal. Indeed, only one French team had won here, it was FC Nantes in 1971, who won thanks to a double from Angel Marcos (2-0).
feat of the@OL!
First Club???????? winner in Porto for 12 matches and Nantes in 1972!#UEL | #FCPOL | #TeamOL pic.twitter.com/ws2RGdapUk— UEFA???????? (@UEFAcom_fr) March 9, 2022
20:50 – Dembélé: “It’s only half-time”
“It was a good match. We had chances on both sides. We were able to create one and prevent them from scoring. But it’s only half-time and we have to stay focused”explained Moussa Dembélé, decisive passer for Lucas Paqueta, on Lyon’s only goal in this round of 16 first leg of the Europa League.
20:45 – Lyon wins in Porto
At the end of a hotly contested match, Olympique Lyonnais achieves the feat by defeating FC Porto in its Dragao stadium, where only Atletico de Madrid and Liverpool have won this season (1-0) . Lucas Paqueta is the only scorer in this round of 16 first leg of the Europa League, the Brazilian having concluded a luminous action with a touch of the ball between Toko Ekambi-Dembélé and him. The Portuguese will regret a goal and a canceled penalty after the intervention of the video.
20:42 – Porto equalize but offside
At the end of added time, Lyon got a huge fright. On a free kick played long, Toni Martinez comes to play the duel with Lukeba. Neither can take the ball which flies to Mbemba. The latter concludes in the most total disbelief. Finally, the equalizing goal is canceled for an offside of the last city, at the time of the slight deviation of his Spanish friend. We play the 95th minute.
20:37 – Additional time: 6 minutes
After two calls to the video during this second period, the referee grants six minutes of added time in this round of 16 first leg of the Europa League. So much time separating Lyon from a possible victory at Porto.
20:36 – Aouar very close
On the left side, Toko Ekambi makes the difference in front of three defenders and places the ball in front of the goal. He passes in front of Diogo Costa and goes to the far post where Aouar tumbles but the Rhone midfielder is too short. The goal was empty. There is one minute left in regulation time.
20:32 – Galeano without success
FC Porto come close to equalizing. Right side, Toni Martinez is in the duel with Lukeba. The young Lyon defender seems to control the Spanish striker but the latter manages to center hard in front of goal. Galeano bursts from behind and passes Mendes but the co-top scorer in the Europa League fails to find the target.
20:27 – Three changes
Sergio Conceiçao continues his coaching and makes two new changes leaving Taremi and Joao Mario to bring in Galeano and Viera. For his part, Peter Bosz made his first change with Faivre coming out and being replaced by Aouar. There are ten minutes left in regulation time.
20:26 – Lopes was almost cheated
On the left side, Sanusi is in the duel and against a Portuguese center. The ball is very close to deceiving Lopes, lobed, but its trajectory flees the goal and finally takes him to a corner.
20:24 – Ndombele too long
Ndombele makes his power speak in the central circle and gets rid of the marking. The former Tottenham sees the cross call, from the axis to the left, of Toko Ekambi and makes the pass. The latter is too deep and is captured by Diogo Costa, out of his goal.
20:23 – Imitate FC Nantes
Only one French club managed to bring Porto the victory. This is FC Nantes which on September 15, 1971 had dominated its rival thanks to a double from Angel Marcos (2-0). Since then, the Dragons have won 10 wins and conceded 2 draws. There remains a quarter to the Lyonnais to imitate the Nantes.