Coming into the contest with just one win from their previous five home matches in the league, Lyon began with a point to prove, as Karl Toko Ekambi and Corentin Tolisso both fired efforts narrowly wide of the target.
The hosts continued to create chances in a one-sided opening 25 minutes, but Matz Sels stood firm in the Strasbourg goal to deny Tolisso and Rayan Cherki.
Having somehow survived the early onslaught on their goal, Strasbourg stunned the home support by scoring two quick-fire goals within the space of three minutes.
First, Aholou struck a brilliant volley into the bottom corner for his first goal of the season, before Diallo doubled the visitors’ advantage by bundling the ball over the line after Kevin Gameiro’s initial strike was thwarted by Anthony Lopes.
Lyon looked to find an immediate response and were given a golden opportunity to halve the deficit on the stroke of halftime when Ibrahima Sissoko was harshly penalised for handball inside the box.
Alexandre Lacazette assumed the responsibility from the spot, and confidently sent Sels the wrong way to give the hosts a vital lifeline going into the second half.
Laurent Blanc’s men emerged after the restart eager to draw level in the contest, but wasteful finishing from Thiago Mendes and Toko Ekambi kept Strasbourg in the ascendency going into the final half-hour.
For all Lyon’s possession, Le Racing continued to pose a threat on the break, and they nearly restored their two-goal advantage, but Lopes thwarted a fierce angled strike by Diallo.
With five minutes remaining and the scoreline delicately poised, Lacazette spurned a glorious chance to equalise for the hosts as his close-range effort was incredibly kept out by Sels from point-blank range.
This remarkable save typified the spirit of an inspired Strasbourg performance, as the visitors held firm during the final exchanges to secure a vital three points in their pursuit of Ligue 1 survival.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Matz Sels (Strasbourg)
