Lille impress at Lyon's expense

Lille impress at Lyon's expense


Lille kept up the pressure on the top two in Ligue 1 with an impressive 3-1 win over Lyon tonight. Jimmy Briand fired Les Gones in front at Stade Metropole, but Moussa Sow drew the hosts level on the stroke of half-time.

Second-half strikes from Marko Basa and substitute Joe Cole then settled the match in Lille's favour, moving the side just four points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

It was the second heavy defeat inflicted on Lyon in four days after Remi Garde's men were hammered 4-0 by Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.

"Our fans were a real 12th man tonight," said Lille coach Rudi Garcia. "This team is strong mentally and they don't worry when they let a goal in. Knowing how to win after falling behind is important.

"We've had three consecutive victories. We're back where we want to be, which is on the podium."

Les Gones began brightly and Briand tested Mickael Landreau early on with a left-footed strike which the home goalkeeper smothered.

Briand got the better of Landreau after 22 minutes, though, getting on the end of a cross from Yohan Gourcuff and then shaking off the atte