Fiorentina sent tumbling by Lyon defeat

French champions Lyon knocked Fiorentina out of the Champions League with a 2-1 victory here on Tuesday as they ensured their own place in the knock-out stages.

Jean II Makoun and Karim Benzema gave the visitors a two-goal lead before Alberto Gilardino pulled one back for the hosts while the woodwork was hit five times throughout the match.

Lyon now need a result against Bayern Munich in two weeks time to top the group while Fiorentina need to avoid defeat at Steaua Bucharest in their final Group F match to ensure the consolation of a place in the UEFA Cup.

La Viola's French goalkeeper Sebastien Frey admitted his team lacked a bit of experience.

“For 20 minutes we were afraid to play further up the pitch and that cost us but after that we played a great match,” he said.

“This is a great competition but this year it was just too great for us, now we have to try to finish third and get into the UEFA Cup.”

Striker Gilardino said it was only to be expected from a team that hadn't played in Europe's top competition for eight years.

“It's the first time we're in this competition so it's normal that we found it difficult,” he said.

“We lacked experience and going down 2-0 always makes life difficult. We had chances but we didn't manage to equalise.”

Fiorentina probed willingly in the early stages and Zdravko Kuzmanovic forced visiting goalkeeper Hugo Lloris into a sprawling save down by his post.

But while Fiorentina were more perspiration than inspiration, Lyon had the cutting edge that their hosts lacked and took the lead on 14 minutes.

Abdul Kader Keita's initial shot from distance was blocked but he ran onto the rebound and scuffed another shot well wide of the far post.

Benzema prevented the ball from running off for a goal-kick and pulled it back for Makoun for a simple finish.

Lyon remained dangerous on the break and Benzema was just a little too precise with his finish from Keita's pull-back, side-footing just wide on 19 minutes.

Sidney Govou then hit the post with a shot from the edge of the area as Lyon threatened to run riot.

Benzema got his name on the scoresheet on 27 minutes as Juninho robbed Riccardo Montolivo in midfield before feeding the France striker who strode forward and shot home low to Sebastien Frey's right.

Fiorentina didn't let their heads drop and deservedly pulled a goal back in the last minute of the first period.

Just before that Gilardino had seen his shot deflected wide off Brazilian defender Cris and from the resulting corner Adrian Mutu had headed against the corner of crossbar and post.

But Gilardino then peeled off to the back post to outjump John Mensah and head Mario Santana's cross into the top corner from eight yards.

Lyon almost extended their lead again soon after the restart as Juninho sent a free-kick crashing back off the bar.

Benzema then escaped on a counter-attack with three defenders in hot pursuit. He beat two when they caught up to him but took one touch too many, allowing Alessandro Gamberini to dive in and block his shot.

Midway through the period Fiorentina also hit the woodwork as Kuzmanovic's shot was deflected onto the post.

Lyon then hit the bar again four minutes from time from a stunning volley by substitute Ederson.

In the dying moments Jean Alain Boumsong made a vital block on substitute Pablo Osvaldo as Lyon held out for the win.