Traore secures dramatic draw

Alain Traore scored a dramatic last-minute goal to salvage Lorient a point with a 2-2 draw against Lyon.

Alain Traore scored a dramatic last-minute goal to salvage Lorient a point with a 2-2 draw against Lyon at the Stade Yves Allainmat. Clement Grenier set the visitors on their way with a first-half strike before Bafetimbi Gomis added a second shortly after the break but, after Vincent Aboubakar's reply gave the hosts hope, the Burkina Faso international came off the bench to cap an emotional return from injury. A draw for Christian Gourcuff's men brings an end to a run of five consecutive wins but they remain two points above their opponents in the Ligue 1 table having gone seven games without defeat. Despite missing influential midfielder Yann Jouffre through injury, Lorient set out to attack their visitors from the start and Rafael Guerreiro went agonisingly close after Aboubakar and Jeremie Aliadiere combined well to tee him up inside 10 minutes, but the 20-year-old's effort shaved the post. In what was high-tempo opening to the game, only some excellent defending from Bruno Ecuele-Manga prevented Gomis from opening the scoring before Les Gones found the back of the net with 22 minutes on the clock. Gueida Fofana picked out Yoann Gourcuff and his excellent touch found Grenier whose first-time effort nestled in the bottom corner of Baptiste Reynet's goal. Intent on defending their lead, Lyon sat back and kept the hosts at bay as the interval approached despite Aliadiere going close with a deflected effort after Kevin Monnet-Pacquet had picked him out. However, Les Gones secured a significant foothold in the game just four minutes after the restart when Gomis popped up to double the visitors lead. Henri Bedimo did well on the left before picking out Alexandre Lacazette who showed some neat control before seeing his low shot saved by Reynet only for Lyon's number 18 to pounce on the rebound for his seventh Ligue 1 goal of the season. The game was far from over though and Lorient handed themselves a lifeline when Aboubakar reduced the two-goal deficit on the hour mark after Aliaidere's superb flick found the Cameroonian who took his opportunity confidently. With the rain falling heavily in Brittany, Gourcuff's men began to apply real pressure and their efforts paid off in dramatic fashion with the final whistle beckoning. Having bombarded the Lyon area with crosses, Lamine Gassama's efforts finally had the desired impact when Traore rose above the visitors defence to plant a header beyond Lopes and claim an unlikely point.