Lille impress at Lyon's expense

Lille kept up the pressure on the top two in Ligue 1 with an impressive 3-1 win over Lyon tonight. Jimmy Briand fired Les Gones in front at Stade Metropole, but Moussa Sow drew the hosts level on the stroke of half-time. Second-half strikes from Marko Basa and substitute Joe Cole then settled the match in Lille's favour, moving the side just four points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain. It was the second heavy defeat inflicted on Lyon in four days after Remi Garde's men were hammered 4-0 by Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League. "Our fans were a real 12th man tonight," said Lille coach Rudi Garcia. "This team is strong mentally and they don't worry when they let a goal in. Knowing how to win after falling behind is important. "We've had three consecutive victories. We're back where we want to be, which is on the podium." Les Gones began brightly and Briand tested Mickael Landreau early on with a left-footed strike which the home goalkeeper smothered. Briand got the better of Landreau after 22 minutes, though, getting on the end of a cross from Yohan Gourcuff and then shaking off the attentions of Franck Beria before slipping a shot between the goalkeeper's legs. Bafetimbi Gomis came close to doubling the lead after 34 minutes with a strike which flew inches wide, but Lille survived the pressure and found themselves back on level terms before the end of the half. Dmitri Payet's corner from the right resulted in a mix-up between Bakary Kone and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, allowing Sow to sneak in and tap home from a few yards out. Lyon had the chance to get their nose in front once more after the restart when Kim Kallstrom whipped in a powerful shot from the edge of the area, which had to be punched over the bar by Landreau. And Lille took full advantage of the miss after 63 minutes by scoring again. Payet was once more the architect with a free-kick into the area which Basa headed home. Lloris managed to keep Eden Hazard out minutes later, blocking a left-footed strike from the Belgian international. But the home side put the result beyond doubt seven minutes from time as Cole started and finished a move which ended with the on-loan midfielder tucking Sow's cross into the bottom corner.