Briand stars as Lyon snatch win

Lyon secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over St Etienne after a Jimmy Briand strike deep into injury time.

Lyon recorded back-to-back Ligue 1 wins for the first time since the season's opening two games with a dramatic 2-1 victory over St Etienne at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. A Jimmy Briand strike deep into injury time proved the difference in a scintillating encounter which left the hosts 19 years without a win in this encounter. Alexander Lacazette had fired Les Gones into an early second-half lead only to be pegged back by a Brandao effort little over 10 minutes later. In a feisty start to the Rhone-Alpes derby, Francois Clerc set the tone when he scythed down Henri Bedimo in full flow and was cautioned for his troubles inside 10 minutes. With challenges coming in thick and fast, Brandao headed wide of Mathieu Gorgelin's goal from a Yohan Mollo delivery before the Brazilian also found himself in the book for an untidy challenge on Clement Grenier. Both sides struggled to find their rythmn as both Brandao and Grenier failed to find the target with half-chances before the biggest chance came 10 minutes before the break. Former Les Verts striker Bafetimbi Gomis saw his point-blank header maginificently saved by Stephane Ruffier after meeting Bedimo's cross but the linesman's flag was raised and his efforts were in vain. Following a first half of few chances, the breakthrough came almost immediately after the restart and it was the hosts who drew first blood. The dangerous Bedimo found space again before picking out Gomis who forced another superb save from Ruffier, but this time the linesman's flag stayed down and Alexander Lacazette was on hand to smash the rebound under the crossbar. With Gorgelin looking shaky in the Lyon goal, the hosts attempted to offer an immediate response but Samuel Umtiti got out well to close down a dangerous-looking Benjamin Corgnet effort. However, it was not long before Les Verts found themselves back in the game thanks to a superbly worked goal. Ghoulam picked out Brandao at the far post and the former Marseille man headed back for Ghoulam to send the ball beyond Gorgelin with a superb bicycle-kick. With the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard baying for blood, Brandao should have scored when a Gorgelin error allowed him a free header at goal, but the Brazilian fired over as the hosts began to turn the screw. The crossbar was next to save Lyon when Loic Perrin stayed up following a corner but the defender could only steer Renaud Cohade's delivery against the woodwork. Despite St Etienne's dominance, Lyon broke their hearts in injury time when Briand struck to take all three points. Yoann Gourcuff showed great trickery on the left before picking out the former Rennes striker, who did the rest with a well-taken header.