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| Lyon held by Valenciennes |
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Lyon were held to a disappointing home Ligue 1 draw as Valenciennes claimed the rewards their efforts warranted.
When Jeremy Pied headed Claude Puel's side in front midway through the first half, they would have been fancied to go on and put the game to bed.
They were unable to take advantage of their second-half chances, though, and defender Gaetan Bong headed a second-half equaliser.
That was a fair reflection in light of a first half in which the visitors could have scored on several occasions, and they threatened first through David Ducourtioux. The forward met Gregory Pujol's cross with a volley from the edge of the box which flashed inches over.
Lyon took the lead in the 26th minute, though, when Lisandro Lopez put the defence under pressure and cut the ball back for Pied to loop a header over keeper Nicolas Penneteau and into the net.
Philippe Montanier's underdogs were back on the attack within two minutes, though, and Rudy Mater's 20-yard free-kick drew a save from Hugo Lloris.
Bong then crossed to Gael Danic, whose low shot across the face of goal was again well saved by Lloris.
If Valenciennes had been unlucky to trail at the break, the pattern was reversed in the second half as Lyon had the better of proceedings.
Yoann Gourcuff was first to test Penneteau, who turned his left-footed drive behind for a corner.
A corner at the other end, from a rare second-half sortie by the visitors, yielded the equalising goal in the 68th minute as Bong rose highest to head past Lloris.
Gourcuff was off target after being picked out by Bafetimbi Gomis following a flowing counter-attack.
And Michel Bastos had the chance to win the game with nine minutes remaining after being teed up by Pied. His shot, though, was blocked and Valenciennes held on for a point.
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