Paris - Arabstoday
Lyon striker Bafetimbi Gomis was delighted after his team "stopped the bleeding" with a 3-2 comeback win over Lorient yesterday. At 2-0 down in the first half, Les Gones looked destined for a third defeat in succession and a near-terminal setback in their quest to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. But Cris got Lyon back into it seven minutes before half-time and, after Lisandro Lopez levelled in the 77th minute, Gomis struck a winner six minutes from time. And the France frontman insisted his side never lost hope, particularly having beaten the same opposition 4-2 in the Coupe de la Ligue in January and scored a 90th-minute equaliser in the process. "We kept the faith," Gomis, who also scored in extra time in the cup tie, told L'Equipe. "Lorient did not make the most of some of their chances and did not seem calm. "There were signs that we could win 3-2, especially after the precedent against Lorient in the Coupe de la Ligue. We came into the game on the back of two defeats in a row. We were against the wall. It's good for our confidence to stop the bleeding. We can go on a good run now." Coach Remi Garde added: "We made a good start to the match before giving the ball away once, then twice, then three times. Each time, it led to a chance for Lorient and we gave them two goals. We have already used the word 'miracle' recently, we must find another! But to win 3-2 having been 2-0 down, it's quite a feat." The win saw Lyon return to fourth place in Ligue 1 but they remain six points adrift of Lille, who occupy the final Champions League spot. Opposite number Christian Gourcuff was frustrated after his side crumbled in the face of Lyon's fightback. "We played better than Lyon but other factors were important, in terms of strength and the ability to play under pressure," he said. "In that regard, we confirmed what we have already seen this season. It's quite annoying. "In the second half, we no longer had the same ability to get forward or keep the ball. We were in trouble because Lyon began pressing harder and harder."