Lyon, Sept 19: French champions Olympique Lyon shook off their poor domestic form to overcome high-flying Anderlecht 1-0 with a disputed Juninho penalty in their Champions League Group A match.
The victory Wednesday came after three games without a win in the French League for Lyon while it was Anderlecht's first defeat of the season, only their second this year and their first on French soil in five European encounters.
The decisive goal came after 26 minutes when striker Sydney Govou chased a long ball into the left side of the penalty area and Anderlecht goalkeeper Daniel Zitka ran out to challenge.
Govou appeared to get a final touch to push the ball on before the Czech goalkeeper dived and collided with him.

After a delay to consider his thoughts, Portuguese referee Paulo Manuel Gomes Costa pointed at the spot and cautioned Zitka amid protests by the Anderlecht players.



Brazilian midfielder Juninho struck the penalty low to the goalkeeper's right to claim his first goal in European football. For Lyon.



The incident was the decisive moment in a scrappy game that saw Lyon growing in confidence and Anderlecht growing in desperation as the night wore on.



The French team, showing great energy and invention, mixed their brightest football with unforced passing errors.



Anderlecht, despite spells of possession, were unable to create clear chances with Swedish forward Par Zetterberg wasting their best opening when he pulled a close range shot wide after 48 minutes.



After a high-tempo, but disjointed, opening period, Lyon settled and took control. Juninho produced an inswinging 25-metres free kick from the left that was saved and midfielder Mickael Essien pulled a shot across goal and wide before they went ahead.



Once Juninho had scored, former Bayern Munich striker Giovane Elber showed more of Lyon's potential with some clever approach work, but he also missed an excellent chance after the impressive Vikash Dhorasoo had combined with Govou who crossed from the left.



Dhorasoo remained impressive after the interval and his through pass to substitute Florent Malouda almost created a second for Lyon but he shot wide.



Lyon looked nervous in the final minutes when Anderlecht threw everyone forward, but they hung on to claim the victory that coach Paul Le Guen had demanded as an opener in a tough group including two former European champions.



Bayern Munich won their meeting with Celtic 2-1 on Wednesday and are next in line for Anderlecht in Belgium in two weeks, when Lyon travel to Glasgow to face last season's Uefa Cup runners-up.


Bureau Report