Last-gasp goal keeps Lyon’s title hopes alive

Paris: 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. AFP