LYON: Seven-time French champions Olympique Lyonnais have a chance to end an eight-year trophy drought after qualifying for the Coupe de la Ligue final with a 4-3 win on penalties against Lille on Tuesday following a 2-2 draw.

Loic Remy’s stoppage-time spot kick had given Lille a lifeline but Lyon keeper Ciprian Tatarusanu saved Jonathan Bamba’s opening penalty in the shootout and Renato Sanches missed their final kick to see the home side through.

Before Remy’s last-gap equaliser, Lyon had gone ahead five minutes from time when Houssem Aouar held off a couple of Lille defenders and scored with a long-range strike.

After Portugal midfielder Sanches gave visitors Lille a 13th-minute lead with a low left-footed strike from outside the area, forward Moussa Dembele levelled from the spot in the 17th.

Lyon, who had a see-saw first half of the season, will play either Paris St Germain or Stade de Reims in the April 4 final at the Stade de France.

This is the final season of the Coupe de la Ligue after the French league voted to suspend the competition from next term to ease fixture congestion.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2020