One goal too short in the second leg in Lyon
Boleslav were close to a draw in the second leg of the third qualifying round of UEFA Europa League, but lost the chance one minute before the end. Lyon asserted their role of the favoured team after the goalless first half.
Both managers made changes in the line-up as compared with the first leg; Hubert Fournier's being more numerous than Karel Jarolím's. In Boleslav's opening line-up Magera was replaced by Šísler, who only appeared on the pitch in the last twenty minutes of the previous game. Koné, Mvuemba, Ferri, Yattara, who were in the opening line-up in Boleslav were among the substitutes this time; Biševac was not nominated at all.
Lyon started the first half in a relaxed way and Boleslav were careful. The game took place in the middle of the field for a few minutes. In the 5th minute Hruška cleared Lacazette's header towards the right post, Lyon then played a corner kick, but Boleslav's defence guarded their goal. In the 16th minute Lacazette's free kick missed Hruška's goal.
In the 17th minute Boleslav were offered a corner kick. Lyon only got Skalák's looping pass to Štohanzl, whose shot from nearly twenty metres landed on Lopes's goal cross-bar. This was Boleslav's greatest scoring chance in the first half. Lyon were close to scoring after thirty minutes of the game. The 31st minute saw Lacazette and Benzia rushing towards Boleslav's goal, but Lacazette pass found Benzia in off-side. Benzia was too short trying to reach Fekir's pass from the left flank a minute later. In the 38th minute Lacazette sent Jallet's pass with his head close outside the left post.
The goalless first half encouraged Boleslav before the second half. However, Lyon driven forward by more than twenty thousand fans scored soon after the teams had swapped sides. Before that, Ščuk was prevented from turning Skalák's pass into a goal by an opponent committing a foul, which went unnoticed with the referees, though.
In the 58th minute Fekir entered Boleslav's penalty area from the left, sent a pass that Navrátil bounced off in a most unfortunate manner and Lacazette found it easy to score before the ball had crossed the goal line and put Lyon in the lead - 1:0.
Lyon continued their offensive efforts and stepped up the pressure on Hruška's goal. In the 61st minute Lacazette missed the goal closely; four minutes later, Hruška punched a dangerous free kick beyond the by-line and Lyon played three corner kicks in a quick succession in the following two minutes.
In the 71st minute Lyon's centre fullback Koné underestimated the situation at the corner of the goal area and fouled the agile Skalák. Milla chipped the ball in Panenka style and scored - 1:1.
After Milla's equaliser, the game was broken by inaccuracies, fouls and substitutions. Boleslav managed to survive several of Lyon's scoring chances and were looking forward to a flattering draw. Toliss's shot missed the goal. Hruška then saved Ferri's attempt, sent Malbranque's hard shot out and saved Fekir's attempt at the left post.
Lyon's goal keeper was also busy before the end especially handling Magera's free kicks from the right touchline. In the 86th minute Smejkal and Navrátil's concerted effort brought the ball in Lopes's goal, but the referee decided that Boleslav had committed a foul and refused to acknowledge the goal.
In the 89th minute Lopes punched second Magera's free kick out and, although Boleslav could have retained control over the ball, they did not and Lyon dashed to a break. Njle escaped on the right flank and his ground shot went past Hruška - 2:1.
In the four additional minutes, Lyon were close to scoring a third goal, but Hruška managed to push the crispy free kick on the cross-bar and out of the field.
Composition of Mladá Boleslav Football Club: Hruška - Bořil, Navrátil, Smejkal, Rosa - Ščuk, Šisler (72. Magera) - Skalák (79. Bartl), Milla, Štohanzl - Ďuriš (68. Šultes).
Composition of Olympique Lyon: Lopes - Jallet, Tolisso, Bedimo (37. Koné), Umtiti - Fekir, Gonalons, Malbranque - Rose (52. Ferri), Benzia, Lacazette (72. Njle).
Yellow cards: Umtiti, Fekir, Koné - Bořil, Rosa, Ďuriš, Navrátil, Šultes
Goals: 58. Lacazette, 89. Njle - 71. Milla
Referees: Klossner - Vogel, Jobin (all from Switzerland)
Attendance: 22717
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