21.12.2009 0

Sports: Misfiring Lyon under pressure from the Red and Whites in Yuletide match at the Louis II Stadium

Monaco holds Lyon to a draw

In their last match of the year AS Monaco rose to the occasion to hold the once mighty Lyon to a one all draw last night at the Louis II Stadium. The Red and Whites can afford to hold their heads high again after their dismal 4-0 drubbing last weekend at the hands of Lille.

Spectator wearing Father Christmas hat watching Monaco versus Lyon football match with his girlfriend
Monaco up their game in Yuletide match against Lyon. Photo: C. Lathbury

It was like watching a different team with the return of Yohan Mollo (injured) and the Brazilian Luis de Carvalho Nenê (suspended and then injured) making the difference.

Lyon opened the score after 22 minutes with a sublime 30-yard free kick that left Monaco’s goalkeeper Stéphane Ruffier standing. Then Monaco drew level 11 minutes before half time following an error by Lyon’s goalkeeper which Chu-Young Park took advantage of with a well-timed header.

The team which has dominated the French premier league for the last decade has only won once in their last seven matches and missed several opportunities to score again. Monaco kept the pressure on their once invincible opponents, but they too failed to capitalise on three almost-superb occasions to take the lead, all involving Mollo.

As a result Monaco is now 12th in the French premier league with 26pts. Meanwhile, Nice (16th) drew 1-1 against bottom of the league Grenoble and Marseilles could only manage nil-all against St Etienne (17th), although they remain in second place on 32 points, two ahead of Lyon who are in 4th position. CL

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