Montpellier vs Lyon. French Ligue 1.
Stade de la Mosson.
Friday 19 April 2013 23:54, UK
Lyon took a big step towards a place in next season's Champions League as they claimed a last-gasp 2-1 win away Montpellier.
Lyon took a big step towards a place in next season's Champions League as they claimed a last-gasp 2-1 win away Montpellier. Lisandro Lopez gave the visitors the lead after 26 minutes but the outgoing champions were level five minutes before the break as Younes Belhanda scored. But three minutes into stoppage time Clement Grenier slammed home from the edge of the box to move Lyon above Marseille and into second place in Ligue 1. Montpellier are now six points out of the European places and that gap would be extended by Nice and Lille over the weekend. OL had the first chance of the match as Jimmy Briand's cross found Lisandro but his header was saved by Geoffrey Jourdren. Anthony Mounier then raced onto Vitorino Hilton's ball into the box but Remy Vercoutre was equal to his low shot. Lisandro then brought another save out of Jourdren but he was not to be denied a third time. Gueida Fofana found Grenier on the left and his cross was perfect for Lisandro to power home with a sensational header. But the home side were level before the break as Belhanda dummied on the edge of the area before coolly slotting home. Vercoutre had to be alert to save a Remy Cabella free-kick in the second half and the keeper was very nearly beaten two minutes from time Belhanda linked up with Cabella who crossed to Gaetan Charbonnier inside the penalty area but his header went just wide of the post. And the hosts went even closer in the last minute of normal time as Henri Bedimo charged down the left and found Cabella free in front of goal but the midfielder crashed his shot against the post. And Montpellier were made to pay for their missed chances as Abdelhamid El-Kaoutari's clearing header from a corner could only find Grenier who hammered a volley past the stranded Vercoutre.