The match: 2-3
OL have proven that they can exist without Alexandre Lacazette. Deprived during the break of its captain, author of his 14th goal in all competitions (33rd) before going out sick, OL found the resources to win in Toulouse (3-2) after being behind this Friday evening , during the 26th day of Ligue 1.
Coming into play in the 66th minute of play, while Lyon was trailing 2-1, another pure Lyon product was the major player in the Rhone revolt. Scorer for the first time this season in Ligue 1 then decisive passer from a corner for Jake O’Brien, Rayan Cherki stunned Toulouse.
Toulouse residents who have come from very far away. In the lead at the break thanks to the inevitable Lacazette, opportunistic to make his return after two matches of absence due to a thigh injury, OL swayed as soon as they returned from the locker room, then gave in twice, back to back. First on the equalizer from Thijs Dallinga, served on a plate by Warren Kamanzi (1-1, 53rd), then with this penalty obtained by Yann Gboho on an avoidable foul by Ernest Nuamah and transformed by Vincent Sierro (2- 1, 58e).
Player of the match: lightning Rayan Cherki
OL did not give up and Cherki, therefore, took on the mantle of savior. Taking over from a subdued Ainsley Maitland-Niles, the Franco-Algerian took ten minutes to shine. Found by another entrant, Mama Baldé, Cherki equalized with a strong shot slipped between the legs of Guillaume Restes (77th, 2-2). Deprived of the double in the process by a leg reflex from the Toulouse goalkeeper, the 20-year-old placed the ball on O’Brien’s head from the corner which he himself obtained (3-2, 80th ).
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Rayan Cherki completed 8 of 10 attempted dribbles after coming on.
Only Hatem Ben Arfa (11th with OL against OM in April 2008) has done better since Opta has been collecting this data (2006/2007).
” Irritated “ just before his entry, as his coach Pierre Sage confided on Amazon Prime Video, Cherki found the target for the first time on his 37th shot of the season in Ligue 1. A proof of character in the aftermath of the disappointment represented his non-call-up by Thierry Henry, coach of the French under-23s. “I’m not focusing on the Olympics yet. There are still a lot of deadlines before we get there”the Lyonnais simply reacted to the broadcaster’s microphone.
His impactful entry in any case allows OL (10th with 35 points) to avoid a fourth defeat in the Championship in 2024 and to widen the gap on their evening opponent, who is also their first pursuer in the standings (11th with 29 units).