Lyonnais 2 - 1 Ajaccio GFCO: Rachid Ghezzal and Gnarly Cornet earn victory for Lyon

Posted Sunday, May 01, 2016 by PA

Gnarly Cornet marked his return from suspension with a goal as Lyon survived a second-half fightback to beat GFC Ajaccio 2-1 and move back into the top two in Ligue 1.

Teenage striker Cornet, who missed last week's win at Toulouse after a straight red card for a dangerous tackle in the recent draw with Nice, fired Lyon into a two-goal lead before half-time after Rachid Ghezzal had given them an early lead direct from a corner.

Gregory Pujol reduced the deficit early in the second period and the visitors went close to snatching a point, but Bruno Genesio's side held on to move back into second place on goal difference above Monaco, who beat Guingamp 3-2 earlier on Saturday.

The opener came in the 10th minute when Ghezzal swung the ball in low from the flag and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa let it run at the near post, deceiving goalkeeper Clement Maury.

Chances were few and far between until the visitors threatened through John Tshibumbu's effort on the half-hour mark before Lyon defender Samuel Umtiti headed wide.

Cornet doubled Lyon's lead five minutes before the break when he converted from close range after Maury misjudged former Manchester United defender Rafael's cross.

Tshibumbu went close with a header early in the second half and Ajaccio pulled one back soon after when Pujol beat Anthony Lopes with a delicious angled chip into the far corner.

Lyon substitute Clement Grenier's 75th-minute free-kick flew wildly over the crossbar as both sides failed to add to the scoring, with team-mate Alexandre Lacazette's shot just off target.

Gazelec twice went close to clinching a point in their fight for survival in the last two minutes as Kevin Mayi's effort was saved in the bottom corner by Lopes before fellow substitute Alexandre Coeff's shot from outside the box flew inches wide. They remain 17th, a point ahead of Reims and three above Toulouse.