Lyon have moved joint-top of Champions League Group F following a 2-0 victory over Steaua Bucharest.
Juninho and Reveillere in Lyon triumph
Ligue 1 champions Lyon have moved joint-top of Champions League Group F following a 2-0 victory over Steaua Bucharest.
The Romanians set their stall out from the off to defend and keep their shape; a tactic that nearly saw the team level at the interval.
They were made to pay on the stroke of half-time when George Ogararu conceded a free-kick on the edge of his own penalty area.
With players like Juninho Pernambucano on the field they might as well have conceded a penalty.
The Brazilian dead-ball specialist made the visitors pay with a deadly free-kick that eluded Steaua's wall and left Robinson Zapata red-faced, as he could only parry the ball into his own net.
Lyon continued to apply pressure after the interval, capitalising on space afforded to them by a Steaua side forced to push numbers forward and came close to doubling their lead through Jean Makoun.
Makoun's goal-bound header was destined to float into the back of the net before Petre Marin hooked the ball clear from under his own cross bar.
Substitute Kim Kallstrom should have done better at the back post from a neat Lyon break, but with time and space he could only send his left-footer back across goal.
However, Steaua's faint hopes of snatching an unlikely leveller ended when full-back Anthony Reveillere lashed home from Juninho's through-ball to settle the contest.
Lyon |
Team Statistics |
Steaua Bucharest |
2 |
Goals |
0 |
1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
4 |
Shots on Target |
4 |
5 |
Shots off Target |
2 |
3 |
Blocked Shots |
4 |
5 |
Corners |
0 |
24 |
Fouls |
17 |
3 |
Offsides |
3 |
2 |
Yellow Cards |
3 |
0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
75.9 |
Passing Success |
74.9 |
26 |
Tackles |
27 |
84.6 |
Tackles Success |
66.7 |
50.2 |
Possession |
49.8 |
55.4 |
Territorial Advantage |
44.6 |
|