Lyon’s form had been nothing short of bizarre in the run up to this spring-time clash, after their 13-game winning run was followed up by a drought of nine games without victory.
However, Les Gones came into this afternoon’s contest with back-to-back victories – including their 2-1 success away to Paris Saint-Germain last weekend – and Paulo Fonseca’s men got off to a fast start, as Afonso Moreira collected the ball on the right side of the box. However, his ball to Yaremchuk flashed narrowly wide, with the Ukrainian unable to connect.
Yaremchuk was celebrating soon enough, though, as Abner Vinicius crossed from the left on 19’, and the striker was perfectly placed to guide the ball home for his second league goal since joining on a loan move in January.
However, Lyon were dealt a blow after the half-hour mark, when Orel Mangala was forced off through injury.
To quite literally add insult to injury, Auxerre equalised in fortuitous circumstances a mere minute later, when a free-kick from distance was floated into the box and headed back across goal.
The home side failed to clear their lines, and after a pinball situation in the box, Lyon alumnus Sinaly Diomande bundled in to silence most of the stadium.
Lyon dominated once play resumed after the restart and came close to restoring their lead minutes into the second half but Endrick’s effort inside the box was brilliantly saved by Theo De Percin.
The Auxerre stopper couldn’t do anything just after the hour mark as Lyon captain Corentin Tolisso swept home on 66’ from Ainsley Maitland-Niles’s cutback.
Fonseca’s men sensed blood and quickly increased their advantage five minutes later as Tolisso turned into the provider when his early cross into the box was poked home by Yaremchuk.
Christophe Pelissier reacted with a triple substitution when his team went two goals down, and his side cut the deficit with two minutes of normal time remaining as Bryan Okoh produced a stunning low-driven strike from outside the box, catching Dominik Greif out.
That goal proved to be too little too late, however, as Lyon held on to claim all three points and solidify their place in Ligue 1’s top three. Auxerre, meanwhile, remain in the relegation play-off spot, four points from safety with just three games to go.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Roman Yaremchuk (Lyon)
