In Lyon, beneath a European night that kept shifting in tone, Olympique Lyonnais held off Crystal Palace 3-2 in the Europa League despite a second-half surge led by Spain international Yeremy Pino.
Lyon take control before the interval
The home side established their advantage early and were the stronger team through the first half, leaving Palace with a steep recovery job after the break.
- Corentin Tolisso, the experienced Lyon midfielder, opened the scoring in the eighth minute.
- Ernest Nuamah doubled the French club’s lead in first-half stoppage time, scoring in the 45th minute plus two.
- Crystal Palace went into half-time two goals behind after struggling to match Lyon’s authority on home ground.
Pino brings Palace back into the contest
Palace found a route back shortly after the restart through Pino. The World Cup winner struck in the 50th minute to make it 2-1, giving the English visitors fresh belief and helping them grow into the match.
The goal changed the mood of the contest, with Palace pressing for an equaliser as the minutes passed. Lyon, however, restored breathing space in the 76th minute when Pavel Sulc scored their third.
Late Kamada goal is not enough
Daichi Kamada cut the deficit again five minutes later, netting in the 81st minute to ensure a tense finish at 3-2. Palace continued to chase a final breakthrough, but Lyon protected their lead until the end.
- 8th minute: Tolisso puts Lyon ahead.
- 45+2 minutes: Nuamah gives Lyon a two-goal cushion.
- 50th minute: Pino reduces the gap for Crystal Palace.
- 76th minute: Sulc scores Lyon’s third.
- 81st minute: Kamada makes it 3-2.
Pino’s intervention and Palace’s late push offered encouragement, but neither proved enough to earn the visitors a result in France as Lyon claimed a narrow Europa League victory.
