Coupe de la Ligue: Lyon 2 Troyes 1

Goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Bafetimbi Gomis helped Lyon to the final of the Coupe de la Ligue with a 2-1 victory over Troyes.

Remi Garde’s side were 2-0 up after just 27 minutes at the Stade de Gerland on Wednesday and held on from there to book their spot in the final against Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, despite a spirited showing from their Ligue 2 opponents – who reduced the deficit before the break through Thiago Xavier.

Lacazette scored the opener when he swept home Mehdi Zeffane’s accurate pass from the right, before Gomis squeezed home the second after good build-up play between Lacazette and the impressive Jimmy Briand.

Lyon were given a scare when Thiago smashed home from close range 10 minutes before the break to leave Troyes trailing 2-1, while Briand’s looping header on the hour mark was ruled out for offside and Bakary Kone also saw a goal chalked off for Lyon on 75 minutes.

It made no difference to the result, however, and the hosts will now go in search of their second Coupe de la Ligue triumph after winning the trophy in 2001.

Lyon controlled the tempo in the early stages and were rewarded with the opening goal after 16 minutes.

Right-back Zeffane received the ball on the overlap and had time to pick out Lacazette, who duly side-footed home from 12 yards.

Briand was a constant menace for Lyon on the left and he was influential in the second goal on 27 minutes.

The winger received Lacazette’s neat throughball in the box and crossed to the near post, where Gomis applied the finishing touch from inside the six-yard box.

Soon afterwards, Gomis flashed an effort across goal from a tight angle as Lyon piled on the pressure.

Home goalkeeper Anthony Lopes had to be alert at the other end, however, producing a fine fingertip save from Benjamin Nivet’s volley.

But there was nothing he could do to prevent Thiago halving the deficit after 35 minutes.

The Lyon defence failed to deal with a corner from the left and the Brazilian was on hand to smash the ball home from close range.

The match followed a similar pattern after the break with Lyon largely dictating play, while Troyes continued to threaten at set-pieces.

Lyon had the ball in the net for a third time on the hour mark when Briand guided a header over Matthieu Dreyer, but the celebrations were cut short by the offside flag.

Kone also thought he had increased the advantage with 15 minutes remaining when he flicked home Gomis’ header, but he too was ruled offside.

Lacazette then forced a smart stop from Dreyer in the closing stages, as Lyon saw out the remaining minutes.