Lyon sink 10-man Benfica to maintain momentum

Lyon confirmed their recent revival with a 2-0 victory at home to Portuguese champions Benfica at Stade Gerland here on Wednesday that sent them three points clear in Champions League Group B.

A downward header from Jimmy Briand set Lyon on their way mid-way through the first half and, after Nicolas Gaitan had been sent off for Benfica, Lisandro Lopez sealed victory with a close-range goal shortly after the interval.

Lyon coach Claude Puel had come under serious pressure after his side won just one of their first seven league matches, but they are now on a run of four straight victories in all competitions.

Having already beaten second-placed Schalke and Hapoel Tel-Aviv, the 2002-2008 French champions are now closing on a place in the Champions League knockout phase for the eighth season in a row.

Despite early sighters from Yoann Gourcuff and Lisandro, Lyon were just beginning to come under pressure from the visiting side when Briand made the breakthrough in the 21st minute.

Michel Bastos hit the far post with a low shot from the left side of the area, but Lyon quickly won the ball back and when Gourcuff teed up Bastos again, he found Briand with a flighted cross that the France international headed home.

The goal settled Lyon and they came close to doubling their lead minutes later when Briand scuffed across goal and wide from Anthony Reveillere’s astute cutback.

Benfica were aggrieved when Papa Diakhate escaped censure for an apparent body-check on Javier Saviola and their frustration was compounded just before half-time when the enterprising Gaitan was sent off.

The young Argentine was dismissed after receiving a second yellow card for a cynical trip on Reveillere and Lyon sought to take swift advantage of their numerical advantage in the early stages of the second half.

Lisandro twice spurned clear chances, shooting straight at goalkeeper Roberto and then toeing a cross from Briand wide at the back post, before finally extending Lyon’s lead at the third attempt in the 51st minute.

Briand was again the source, reacting quickly when his shot hit the post to centre for Lisandro, who stabbed the ball home after Roberto parried his initial header.

Roberto twice frustrated Lyon’s attempts to kill the game off for good, getting down well to push away Bastos’s volley from a Gourcuff corner and then adjusting his feet sharply to keep out a deflected Gourcuff free-kick.