The final whistle at Groupama Stadium arrived with Lyon holding their nerve, while Nice were left with the image of Elye Wahi celebrating an equaliser that never counted. Lyon won 2-1 on Sunday night in a Matchday 7 Ligue 1 contest that swung from an early Nice lead to a home comeback, then into a frantic late siege after Keito Nakamura’s dismissal.
Lyon overturn Wahi opener before the interval
- Nice struck in the 18th minute when Jonathan Clauss delivered from the right and Elye Wahi finished low with his right foot from the middle of the box, finding the left corner.
- Lyon had already tested Nice through Tanner Tessmann, Noah Nartey and Julien Duranville, and their pressure finally paid off on 32 minutes. Duranville’s effort from the left side of the area was saved, but Pavel Sulc followed in to score from close range with a low right-footed finish.
- The home side completed the turnaround four minutes later. Zachary Athekame sent in a free-kick delivery and Tessmann headed Lyon in front from the centre of the area.
- Moussa Niakhaté went close to extending the advantage before half-time, heading narrowly wide from Kaïl Boudache’s set-piece cross.
Lyon took a 2-1 lead into the break, but Nice returned with greater urgency and repeatedly tested Rémy Descamps.
Nice hit the woodwork as Lyon lose Nakamura
- Nice began the second half on the front foot. Niels Nkounkou forced Descamps into a save, before Axel Witsel met a Clauss corner and headed against the crossbar in the 53rd minute.
- Mohammed Amoura had an effort blocked after Clauss created the opening, while Nice collected a series of corners as Lyon defended their penalty area.
- Lyon made a double substitution on 61 minutes, bringing on Corentin Tolisso and Nakamura for Nartey and Duranville.
- Nakamura’s evening lasted only nine minutes. The Lyon substitute was shown a red card in the 70th minute after a foul on Mohamed Abdelmonem.
- Despite being a player down, Lyon nearly added a third when Mads Bidstrup fired just wide after Khalis Merah’s pass.
- Nice came closest again in the 74th minute as Wahi headed Nkounkou’s cross onto the right-hand post from point-blank range.
VAR ends Nice’s late escape
Nice used their numerical advantage to push more bodies forward. Isak Jansson, introduced with Morgan Sanson and Sofiane Diop in the 87th minute, saw a header saved by Descamps after another Amoura cross. Nkounkou also had a low strike stopped, while Alidu Seidu sent an effort over following a corner.
The visitors thought they had rescued a point three minutes into stoppage time. Sanson released Wahi, who finished and celebrated, but the assistant’s offside call was confirmed after a VAR review. Wahi was booked for excessive celebration as the goal was removed.
Descamps then won a foul under pressure in his own area and Lyon saw out four added minutes to secure the 2-1 victory. Nice had started strongly and finished with a flood of attacks, but their early advantage was erased by Sulc and Tessmann before the interval.
Key match incidents
- 10th minute: Nkounkou booked for a foul on Boudache.
- 48th minute: Abdelmonem booked for dangerous play.
- 65th minute: Amoura booked for a dangerous challenge on Tolisso.
- 70th minute: Nakamura sent off for Lyon.
- 90+4th minute: Wahi booked after his disallowed late goal.
