Last-gasp Lyon keep title hopes alive

PARIS (AFP) –

Lyon’s forward Lisandro Lopez (R) is congratuled by his teammates Jimmy Briand (L) and Clement Grenier (C) during their French L1 football match against Montpellier, April 19, 2013 at the Mosson stadium in Montpellier, southern France. A goal in the third minute of injury time from Grenier gave Lyon a 2-1 win at champions Montpellier on Friday to keep their slim French title hopes alive.

A goal in the third minute of injury time from Clement Grenier gave Lyon a 2-1 win at champions Montpellier on Friday to keep their slim French title hopes alive.

The win moved Lyon into second place on 59 points, one ahead of Marseille, who have a game in hand, but eight behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

Grenier’s potentialy decisive strike came after a corner from Yoann Gourcuff was only half-cleared by an Abdelhamid El-Kaoutari header.

The ball fell for Grenier whose half-volley from the edge of the penalty area found the net off the crossbar.

“A draw may have been a fairer result, but we have been in the opposite position since the start of the season,” said Lyon coach Remi Garde.

“We haven’t won matches that we should have won.

“This win doesn’t guarantee us anything, but it has helped us to gain an edge on our pursuers.”

Lisandro Lopez had put Lyon ahead in the 26th minute after being set-up by Gourcuff and Grenier.

But Moroccan international Younes Belhanda levelled five minutes before the interval with a fine individual goal.

Despite the three points, Lyon can be replaced in second place on Saturday when Marseille host relegation-threatened Brest.