Lille vs. Lyon: Dogged Fightback Sees Les Dogues Snatch Three Points

Paris Saint-Germain, 2-0 winners against Dijon early on Sunday, were able to plop up into a cozy chair or sidle up to a sidewalk cafe in the French capital, content to watch Lille and Lyon, their two closest adversaries for the Ligue 1 crown square off in the late-night showdown to cap the weekend fixtures

Both teams were seeking victory in order to keep their foot firmly planted upon the gas pedal and remain within striking distance of the in-form Parisiens.

This fixture had famously ended in a 4-3 Lille victory back in Dec. '09, when a stoppage-time goal by erstwhile winger Gervinho (since departed for Arsenal) had sealed victory for Les Dogues in a match that they had trailed 3-1 at one point in the second half.

Lille were licking their wounds this time around, having lost 1-0 at home to Inter Milan in their midweek Champions League group stage match.

Still, they boasted a full lineup bereft of any major injuries, with only Joe Cole—a starter against Milan—dropping to the bench in favor of Dimitri Payet, so impressive after coming on as a substitute in that tie, who occupied Cole's now-customary position on the wing opposite of Hazard.

Lyon had experienced their own heartbreak in their Champions League match Tuesday, which proved far more brutal than Lille's travails. 

Les Gones, who had achieved one of the exploits of the 2009-10 season when they'd defeated Real Madrid on aggregate in the CL Round of 16, were smacked around at the Bernebeu this time around in a 4-0 demolition derby, whose score reflected the complete dominance employed by what was a vastly superior Madrid side.

Undeterred by that beatdown in Spain, Lyon started well on Sunday. Yoann Gourcuff, a long-term absentee due to a nasty ankle injury up until last week's match against Nancy, made his second consecutive start after the midweek Madrid tie, and looked lively, combining well with target man Bafetimi Gomis.

The visitors struck first, with Gourcuff playing a well-timed ball in for much-maligned winger Jimmy Briand, who brushed past Lille right-back Franck Beria before slotting through keeper Mickael Landreau's legs, the ball rattling into the net off the underside of the former French international's shin.

That 22nd minute strike had provided a forearm shiver to Lille, who had designs on an exploit to dull the pain of their midweek fiasco. The Nordistes have endured a sputtering run of form of late, managing only two wins in their last six matches, all competitions combined.

They dug down and displayed the mettle so prevalent during their double-winning season in 2010-11, immediately pressing forward and looking for an equalizer before the halftime whistle.

It took some time, but in the 45+1 minute, a deft Moussa Sown back-heeled flick off a broken bit of play in front of Lyon keeper Hugo Lloris squirmed into the net, squaring the fixture seconds before the break.

The hosts didn't rest on their goal, and came out firing after the break, breaking the 1-1 deadlock in the 64th minute when defender Marko Basa's looping header found its way past Lloris.

England international Joe Cole, on a season-long loan with Lille from Liverpool, had expressed his pleasure at joining in the northern French club's "project" upon first arriving fresh off the TGV back in early September, ESPN Soccernet had reported at the time.

Cole, who has already provided fireworks during his short spell in Ligue 1 with an excellent debut goal, sealed victory for his new side in the 83rd minute when he fired a low shot past Lloris after a well-placed cut-back from Sow.

It was the Englishman's second domestic goal, and it couldn't have come at a more critical juncture.

The win saw Lille position themselves in third in the league standings, one point removed from Montpellier and four behind leaders PSG after 11 matches played.

Lyon dropped to fifth with the loss, ensconced in the standings at six points behind Paris.

They will have little time to recuperate, however, with consecutive matches against hated rivals Saint-Etienne coming hard and fast in the next six days (Oct. 26 and 29).

That is always a matchup to watch, and this year, in which les Verts sit eighth in the league standings, promises to offer nothing less than in seasons past.

For Cole, it was the latest brick in his personal reclamation project after such a trying season with Liverpool in 2010-11.

"I know Lille play well, they are a club with a great pedigree and it's really exciting to have a chance to play in the Champions League again," Cole had said in that aforementioned Soccernet article.

"I've always wanted to play abroad. The way Lille play reminds me a little bit of Barcelona. They pass the ball quickly and well. [Eden] Hazard is a great player. It will be a great challenge to play for a team that wants to progress. I feel the club are moving in the right direction."

He could certainly have no qualms about the club's trajectory after the furor ebbed from the 3-1 win over Lyon.

A healthy Cole working wonders on the wing for Lille will be a troubling prospect for future Ligue 1 opponents—especially with December's battle against Paris at the Parc des Princes sure to have been vigorously circled on the calendar.