Lyon loses to Montpellier to extend poor start to Ligue 1 with Lacazette sent off
Sat, Aug 19, 2023
Soccer News (AP)
LYON, France (AP) - Lyon has two losses and no points to start the French league after falling to Montpellier 4-1 on Saturday.
Lyon striker Lacazette was so overwhelmed with frustration that he was sent off in the 80th minute for a bad foul on Teji Savanier.
Montpellier earned its first win after drawing with Le Havre 2-2 on the opening weekend.
Winger Arnaud Nordin capitalized on a blunder from Remy Riou to open the scoring in the 20th. Riou attempted to play the ball out from the back but gave it away to Nordin, who shot past the Lyon goalkeeper.
Mousa Al-Tamari doubled the lead on a counterattack in the 39th. The Jordan winger started a run from his own half and dribbled past Duje Caleta-Car before beating Riou with a low strike.
Al-Tamari, who joined Montpellier from Belgian club Leuven this summer on a free transfer, made it 3-0 by chasing a long kick from goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte to slip the ball under Riou in the 66th.
Lacazette cut the deficit in the 69th then Nigerian striker Akor Adams, who scored twice against Le Havre, sealed the win on a fast break in the 89th.
The lack of quality in Lyon was glaring as the host struggled to create chances and was let down by poor defending.
Lyon desperately needs reinforcements to contend for European spots, but severe financial contraints imposed by the league's financial watchdog have hampered the club's recruitment efforts this summer.
Lyon lost to Strasbourg 2-1 on the opening weekend.
The match between Lyon and Montpellier was put back by two hours because of a regional heatwave.
Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain visited Toulouse late.
On Friday, Marseille drew with Metz 2-2.
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