Lisandro late show sends Lyon up to third

An emphatic injury-time strike by Lisandro Lopez earned Lyon a 2-1 victory at Montpellier on Saturday that sent his side up to a season-high position of third in the French first division.

The Argentine striker had given the visitors an early lead, only for Emir Spahic to equalise from a corner with 10 minutes to play.

The three points looked destined to escape Lyon, but in the fourth minute of added time left-back Thimothee Kolodzieczak swung in a cross from the left and Lisandro controlled the ball on his chest before slamming home.

Lyon had slipped into the relegation zone after defeat at home to neighbours Saint-Etienne in late September, but they are now level on points with second-placed Marseille after extending their unbeaten run to nine games.

“The most important thing is to focus on ourselves until the end of the year and then we’ll see how many points we can get,” said Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. “The spirit is very good. We have to continue like this.”

Lyon took the lead in the fifth minute when an incisive move culminated in Lisandro tucking away Michel Bastos’s low right-wing cross at the back post.

Lloris had to produce a superb save low down to his left to repel substitute Karim Ait Fana in the second half, before Olivier Giroud tested the France international’s reflexes with a rising left-foot half-volley.

The visitors’ defence finally buckled with 10 minutes to play, as Bosnian centre-back Spahic dived in to head home after Lyon defender Dejan Lovren had inadvertently flicked on a corner at the near post.

Lyon coach Claude Puel looked on incensed from the visitors’ dugout, but he and his staff were jubilant 15 minutes later as Lisandro snatched a dramatic last-gasp victory.

Earlier, Rennes took advantage of Lille’s postponed game against Lorient by returning to the top of the table with a laboured 1-0 win at home to Monaco.

Colombian striker Victor Hugo Montano claimed the game’s only goal, blasting high into the net from the penalty spot in the 64th minute after Nampalys Mendy was penalised for handling a cross.

Monaco had seen South Korean international striker Park Chu-Young spurn two chances, volleying narrowly wide in the first half and then blazing high over the crossbar from six yards after nine minutes of the second period.

“It wasn’t our day in the first half,” said Rennes coach Frederic Antonetti, whose side drew 0-0 at Marseille in mid-week.

“In the second half we played our own game, showed our level and I think the victory is deserved when you look at the second half.”

Rennes move a point above champions Marseille, who play on Sunday, while Monaco remain 17th, one place above the relegation zone.

Lille, second going into the weekend, were bidding to go top on Saturday but their game at home to Lorient was called off due to heavy snow in northern France and is now scheduled to take place on Sunday afternoon.

“It’s better not to start the match than to start it and then stop it,” said Lorient president Loic Fery. “We all want to play tomorrow (Sunday).”

Sochaux moved up to sixth on the back of a 2-1 defeat of Valenciennes, while Toulouse are now eighth after Federico Santander’s second goal for the club secured a 1-0 win at home to Caen, who drop a place to 19th.

Auxerre, who visit Real Madrid in the Champions League next Wednesday, secured a 1-1 draw at Lens through an 87th-minute Jean-Pascal Mignot header, while bottom club Arles-Avignon drew 1-1 with Nancy.

Marseille go to Mediterranean rivals Nice on Sunday, while Paris Saint-Germain host Brest.