Lyon overturn first-leg deficit vs Sparta Prague to inch closer to Champions League return

[p]The ‘win or bust’ situation [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/lyon/2akflumR/"]Lyon[/a] faced after last week’s defeat in Prague was heavily reflected in their lightning-quick start, which almost yielded an opener inside three minutes, when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nuamah-ernest/rsiloRPO/"]Ernest Nuamah[/a]’s corner was flicked narrowly wide of the post by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/abner-vinicius/fcH6s6Fc/"]Abner Vinicius[/a].[/p][p][b]The Czech side’s worst fears were realised a matter of moments later though, when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/surovcik-jakub/fwXhJa0F/"]Jakub Surovcik[/a] spilt [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tolisso-corentin/hQOIoFOs/"]Corentin Tolisso[/a]’s stinging drive to the grateful feet of Nuamah, who fired the rebound into the bottom corner. [/b][/p][embed guid="13aacec8-565e-49d7-95a0-48e7e5605b30" url="https://x.com/OL/status/2087265911979864265" social-type="twitter" /][p]Tolisso was proving elusive for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sparta-prague/6qA358jH/"]Sparta[/a], and he ought to have fired Lyon ahead on aggregate soon after when he swept [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/openda-lois/IN2MK7Jo/"]Lois Openda[/a]’s delivery handsomely over the bar despite being left unmarked 12 yards from goal.[/p][p]Pressure was building on the Sparta goal, with a stunning double save from Surovcik to deny [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fofana-malick/6N65iDOI/"]Malick Fofana[/a] keeping them level on aggregate at the half-hour mark.[/p][p]The hosts’ pressure eventually forced an error, though, as when Openda looked to be breaking clear in behind, he had his heels clipped by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sevinsky-adam/8nTNJ9y7/"]Adam Sevinsky[/a], and referee Szymon Marciniak had no hesitation in brandishing a red card.[/p][image alt="Match momentum" id="36b34aef-1c15-453b-a293-dd9fe0e328db" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="6d4b9e98-f9cb-4195-a065-5c87f8774715" original-width="3840" original-height="2160" /][p]The break came at a good time for Sparta, who were able to stem Lyon’s flow after the interval, albeit without offering much attacking threat of their own.[/p][p]But the hosts sparked back into life on the hour mark through [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/morton-tyler/40d4JF8O/"]Tyler Morton[/a], who first fired a low effort straight at Surovcik – which the latter was able to repel – before the former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a] man cannoned an effort against the crossbar with the Sparta stopper beaten.[/p][p][b]Yet, that proved to be nothing more than a temporary reprieve for the visitors, who found themselves behind on aggregate midway through the second half when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/maitland-niles-ainsley/CnBQp2sj/"]Ainsley Maitland-Niles[/a] ghosted in at the back post to tap home Tolisso’s teasing delivery. [/b][/p][p][b]With a man disadvantage, Sparta faced what seemed an insurmountable mountain to get back into the tie, and their faint hopes of a comeback were extinguished on 73 minutes, when Morton reacted quickest to a loose ball inside the area and stroked an inch-perfect effort into the top corner. [/b][/p][p]The closing stages were rather painful as far as the Czech giants were concerned, with Lyon simply toying with them as they saw out a victory which sets up a play-off round tie with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/fenerbahce/MsbmracL/"]Fenerbahce[/a] for a place in the UCL league phase.[/p][p]Defeat doesn’t come with catastrophic consequences for Sparta though, as by virtue of being on the league path in qualifying, their consolation prize is a confirmed spot in the league phase of the UEFA Europa League.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/morton-tyler/40d4JF8O/"]Tyler Morton[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/lyon/2akflumR/"]Lyon[/a])[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/lyon-2akflumR/sparta-prague-6qA358jH/?mid=U52T0mTs"]Click here for more on the match[/a][/b][/p][embed guid="9c2282d3-d7fa-4b7c-8581-f9f64af4fc9f" url="https://x.com/OL_English/status/2087280711740920264" social-type="twitter" /]