Lyon cruise to Benfica win

Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2010 by PA

Lyon made it three wins from three Champions League Group B matches with a comfortable 2-0 victory at home to 10-man Benfica.

Goals in either half from Jimmy Briand and Lisandro Lopez were enough to see off the Portuguese, for whom Nicolas Gaitan was dismissed before half-time.

The win strengthens the French outfit's grip on top spot in the group with Schalke three points behind them in second.

Lyon started well and dominated possession from the outset, playmaker-in-chief Yoann Gourcuff having an eighth-minute shot from 20 yards which flew over.

Striker Lisandro was next to try his luck, two minutes later, firing right-footed from the left of the area which goalkeeper Roberto did well to hold onto.

In the absence of injured striker Oscar Cardozo, Benfica's best work up front came from Argentinian pair Javier Saviola and Pablo Aimar.

Saviola had a shot which was blocked well by Pape Diakhate and then saw a cross headed wide by Junior, before Aimar blasted one wide from 25 yards.

Benfica's purple patch continued as Carlos Martins pressed and had a 20th-minute shot blocked from distance but Lyon upped the ante soon after.

Michel Bastos fired a trademark shot which hit the post and when the Brazilian collected the loose ball and crossed from the left, Briand did well to head home impressively from 12 yards to break the deadlock after 21 minutes.

Four minutes later Briand hit one wide from Anthony Reveillere's cross.

Gaitan was booked and in what seemed some childish vendetta, Gaitan was then sent off four minutes from the break for a second booking after a silly foul on Reveillere - whose had himself been booked for a foul on the Benfica man.

Early in the second half Lisandro forced a save from Roberto before Michel Bastos volleyed, left-footed, against the post.

Another chance came before four minutes of the half had been played, Lisandro somehow missing from close range.

Lyon's second goal did come in the 51st minute. Briand's effort from the edge of the box hit the post and the France striker continued his run to pick up the ball from the right and send in a cross which Lisandro headed against the keeper before hooking home the loose ball.

Briand and Lopez had further chances - the former hitting the post yet again - and Maxime Gonalons sent one wide.

Carlos Martins tried his luck at the other end as the game gradually petered out.