Montpellier 1 : 5 Lyonnais - Lyon hammer Montpellier to go top

Posted Monday, March 09, 2015 by PA

Alexandre Lacazette and Nabil Fekir claimed a brace apiece as Lyon moved top of the Ligue 1 table following a 5-1 comeback victory over Montpellier at Stade de la Mosson.

Lucas Barrios handed the hosts the lead early on but Lacazette's 30th-minute penalty and Fekir's addition before the break put Hubert Fournier's men ahead.

Fekir extended Lyon's lead after 72 minutes, while both Corentin Tolisso and Lacazette scored at the death to put the result beyond doubt and leave Montpellier seventh.

La Pallaide came into the match on the back of two consecutive league wins and their recent good form looked like continuing when Dabo's pull back after a strong run down the right eventually feel at the feet of Barrios who made no mistake with a simple finish.

The league leaders were undeterred though and Geoffrey Jourdren was called upon twice in the Montpellier goal soon after, twice denying Lacazette before Yoann Gourcuff lashed over the rebound.

Lyon continued to dominate after falling behind and were handed a perfect opportunity to level when Fekir was hauled down inside the area by Abdelhamid El Kaoutari.

Top-scorer Lacazette took charge from 12 yards an confidently sent Jourdren the wrong way on the half-hour mark to cancel out Barrios' opener.

And the visitors did not have to wait much longer for their evening to improve further when Fekir played a wonderful one-two with Gourcuff just inside the area before bending a fine left-footed effort beyond Jourdren into the far corner.

Despite the lively opening 45 minutes, neither side managed to muster much goalmouth action in the early stages of the second-half with a flurry of yellow cards the only action of note.

However, after the hour mark Lyon reaffirmed their grip on the game as Fekir went agonisingly close with a long-range effort before Jordan Ferri found the crossbar after Lacazette had teed him up with a great opportunity for a third goal.

Les Gones all but wrapped up the three points after 72 minutes when Gourcuff's perfectly-timed ball released Fekir and the in-form Lyon youngster cleverly lifted the ball over Jourdren to complete a superb double.

Montpellier were handed a lifeline when referee Amaury Delerue awarded the hosts a dubious penalty, only for Barrios' effort to be kept out by Anthony Lopes, before the visitors added another two late on.

Firstly Tolisso was gifted a simple tap-in after Mohamed Yattara saw his effort well saved by Jourdren before the Guinea forward got his second assist in a matter of minutes, crossing for Lacazette to finish, completing a successful evening for the league leaders.