Liverpool 1 – 2 Lyon: Super Subs Save the Day

By: Inara | October 21st, 2009

Since so much has been said about yesterday’s game, I’m not going to go too much into it. I just wanted to say how proud I am of my team. We’ve been waiting for this win for a long time. It might just be the group stages, but the biggest criticism of Lyon has been that they’ve been unable to defeat a big team away from home. Draw, yes, but not win.

Britain Soccer Champions League

Pure Joy.

People might say, “Oh but Liverpool didn’t have their two star players,” but then Lyon didn’t have any central defenders. So I’d call that an even handicap. Liverpool are one of the biggest teams in the world, so I don’t buy their weak bench as an excuse when theoretically, ours ought to be weaker than theirs (though that is arguably not the case). At any rate, what it boiled down to was this: Lyon played for the full 93 minutes, and Liverpool didn’t.

The match itself was fairly even. I don’t think one side outplayed the other, as both Liverpool and Lyon went through phases of domination. There could have been a lot more goals for the two teams, but both goalkeepers were on top of things. Both squads also lost an important player to injury in the first half – Steven Gerrard and Cris. For those of you who don’t know, Cris decided to tackle Dirk Kuyt’s knee with his head and had to be taken out because they feared he had had a concussion.

Puel replaced Cris with youth player Maxime Gonalons. With Jeremy Toulalan already playing as a CB, Gonalons, a DM by trade, was forced into playing a strange position for his CL debut. But he responded well to the pressure and scored the first goal.

I might not have agreed with Puel’s starting XI (Ederson, really?), but his choice of subs was inspired. Bafetimbi Gomis might not have scored, but he and Lisandro wore down a tired Liverpool defense and made Cesar Delgado’s last gasp goal possible.

SOCCER-CHAMPIONS/

WTF were you thinking, Cris?

Other positives: Hugo Lloris was awesome! I’ll be remembering that save from Fabio Aurelio’s header for a long time. Sidney Govou had Emiliano Insúa in his back pocket for the entire match, and it was his cross that led to Delgado’s goal. Kim Kallstrom once again put in a steady performance, as did Toulalan and Lisandro. The fullbacks were decent though I’ve definitely seen them do better. Jean II Makoun looked a bit lost at times, and did Ederson.

But the biggest shout out has to go to the fans who traveled all the way to England. It was amazing to hear their chants drown out those of the Liverpool supporters, especially those after the first OL goal. If I hadn’t known better, I’d have thought that the game was taking place at the Stade de Gerland!

All in all, it was a solid game and a fully deserved victory. Right now, Lyon top their group with nine points out of a possible nine. There are still three games remaining, two of which are at home. Lyon have 90% qualified for the knockout rounds and are favorites to top their group.

Some highlights:

Liverpool – Lyon Résumé du match

Some Related Lyon Posts:

Category: Champions League, Team News and Rumors, Video

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Matt

lol Tommy Smyth, Real Madrid at 12th? Pick that one out of the onion bag. It's nice to see the club getting so much praise though and it's well deserved. Our record in Europe this seasons now 5-0-0 15GS 3GA.

This could be a good year for Ligue 1's coefficient with Bordeaux and Lyon looking likely to top their CL groups and Marseille still in the hunt.
Sam

Ha, Inara - it's seemingly something we have to live with as Lyon fans. Shame Cissokho's saying it this soon into his Lyon career though.
Dror

well if Porto got him for 300,000 and sold it to us for 15 mil, i don't mind selling him this January for 750 mil ^^
Ed

Inara-agreed that it's surprising the first time Liverpool and Lyon have met in the Champions League, and that Kelly looked great...and I can imagine that it was a great experience for Lyon supporters. Again, well done and deserved.
mrCham

Man, I can see the highlights endless times and I smile every time!! Lyon is in my heart =)
Aleksander

Might still not be 100% sure of Puel, but that guy sure has passion. I have never seen a coach celebrate like he does after each goal, gotta say i believe he can get us far with his work ethic tactics, still, I think he could done more to improve our passing game
Brett

Speaking of saves, after i saw your guys' game, Reina had two ridiculous saves even though literally two seconds later you guys got your first goal. But Lloris had a nuts save as well.
Jao

I've watched the match two more times since. A classic. I love the Gonalons goal because of the players celebrating, especially Toulalan and Makoun (the two responsible for keeping the ball alive), Pjanic, and Govou. They were all excited and jumping around. They really wanted and deserve that goal. Way to fight for it.

Also, Pjanic might have not look great, but if you watch closely, he is partially responsible for both the goals. His beautiful leading pass to Revs set up the corner, which led to Gonalons goal and his perfect/timely pass to Govou, which kept him onside led to Delgado's goal. Oh and despite the goal, Gonalons should never be put in this position again. He's no CB and if N'Gog were a few years older and wiser, he'd have certainly scored one of those many chances he had.
Aleksander

Exremely fast reflexes. Cat-like reflexes, props to our own karate kid
Justin C.

Lloris did have a pretty badass save. That one where Aurelio or whoever drilled it in and superHugo got a hand on it. Fast reflexes man;
Aditya

Lyon did well. Just repeat it!
Jennifer Bin

I testify. Lloris is freaking amaaaazing.
Megame

Many good things to say indeed about most if not all the team.
But it's true Makoun did scare me at times (he's at the origin of the goal Liverpool scored); unlike some others I haven't been particularly impressed by Ederson nor by Gonalons (except his header, of course).
As to why Ederson played and not Bastos, there are several possible explanations: a) Bastos was doubtful due to an ankle problem, and b) Puel was upset because of his disregard of the team's discipline, especially as regards defending (see the Sochaux game), whereas Ederson is a better soldier in that regard.
Pjanic wasn't as shining as in previous appearances, but he had a decent game.
As for the fullbacks, I thought Cissokho put in a great performance, and Reveillere's spirit is to be noted: in the stoppage time, most backs, content with a draw against the big and famous Liverpool, would have sent the ball wide outside the pitch to waste time; but he didn't, fought to send a ball which Govou took to Liverpool's side, crossing for Gomis (who missed it by a notch) and Delgado (who didn't) leading to the second goal.
This, to me, is an example of this "Lyon spirit" people start talking about regarding this team. And it's good to see in this team the "it's not over until it's over" attitude that was a trademark in previous years.
Dave Trotter

Also, I am getting tired of people acting like Lyon beating Liverpool is an 'upset'. Man-for-man, Lyon is a better team, pure and simple!
Dave Trotter

Cesar Delgado has to be one of the best subs in all of soccer. I would never start the guy. He does great off the bench and should start every game there. I had a feeling that when he entered the pitch, something would happen.

And it did!
mrCham

"WTF were you thinking, Cris?". I lol'd, like twice.