Brest 1-1 Lyonnais - Licka leaves Lyon in lurch

Posted Monday, May 16, 2011 by PA

An equaliser from substitute Marcel Licka earned Brest a 1-1 draw with Lyon and moved Alex Dupont's side two points clear of the Ligue 1 relegation zone.

Ederson had given the visitors an early lead but Licka's strike all but ends any lingering hopes Lyon have of overhauling Marseille and finishing second to secure an automatic place in the Champions League group stage.

Indeed, Claude Puel's side are only two points ahead of Coupe de France finalists Paris Saint-Germain as they look to hold on to the final qualification place for Europe's showpiece club tournament.

Brest took a step closer to survival and they have Nice and Nancy between themselves and the bottom three with only two games remaining

Lyon, who have only won five league games away from home all season, took the lead in the 15th minute when Miralem Pjanic's corner was met by Brazilian midfielder Ederson whose bullet header beat Steeve Elana in the Brest goal.

Kim Kallstrom almost doubled Lyon's lead within 60 seconds but his effort from the edge of the penalty area whistled past Elana's left post.

Brest rarely threatened in the first half and Johan Martial's failure to make full contact with a Bruno Grougi cross when he was in a good position to work Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was their best chance.

The home side started the second half with a higher tempo but lacked a cutting edge in the final third and they were almost two goals behind just after the hour mark when Bafetimbi Gomis' deflected shot went just past the upright.

Lyon then came close again through Kallstrom and Pjanic before Brest equalised in spectacular fashion.

Nolan Roux picked out Licka on the edge of the box and the Czech Republic international showed superb technique to hit the ball on the half-volley and past Lloris into the top corner.