Lyon 3-2 Crystal Palace: Tolisso 8, Nuamah 45+2, Sulc 76; Pino 50, Kamada 81
The Palace manager spent 14 months in charge of Lyon before leaving the club. Defeat here follows Sunday’s Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest, where Palace had beaten Oliver Glasner, who Sage succeeded at Selhurst Park.
Despite a first start of the season for Ismaila Sarr, who finished as the Conference League’s leading scorer last season, Palace struggled to make an impression before half-time and Lyon established a two-goal lead without conceding a shot on target.
Corentin Tolisso put the hosts ahead after Palace failed to clear a corner from Ernest Nuamah. The Lyon midfielder controlled the loose ball and struck on the turn, leaving Walter Benitez with little chance of stopping his finish.
Nuamah continued to trouble the visitors. Benitez had to come off his line to punch away the forward’s header from a Tolisso cross, while Sarr eventually forced Dominik Greif into a save at the other end.
Palace’s best spell of the half amounted to little. Sarr appeared to direct the ball towards goal with his head, but the referee judged that he had used his hand and booked the Senegal international. The decision also denied Palace a corner.
Nuamah was then denied by a timely block from Jaydee Canvot as Lyon increased the pressure towards the interval. The forward made no mistake moments later, finishing low from close range after Keito Nakamura picked him out following a swift passing move. Palace’s defence was opened up too easily, and Lyon went into the break with a comfortable advantage.
Sage’s side responded with greater purpose after half-time. Five minutes into the second period, a short corner involving Tyrick Mitchell and Adam Wharton created the opening for Yéremy Pino, who finished after receiving a sharp pass from Wharton.
Palace suddenly looked more dangerous. Jorgen Strand Larsen sent a header off target as the visitors pressed for an equaliser, and another effort flashed across the face of goal. The improvement gave Sage’s team a foothold in a match that had threatened to get away from them.
The manager introduced Daichi Kamada and Eddie Nketiah just after the hour, replacing Sarr and Strand Larsen. Lyon remained capable of creating danger, however, and Benitez had to tip an effort from Abner over the crossbar.
Kamada soon became central to Palace’s attempt to get back into the contest. The substitute went down under a challenge from Nuamah, prompting protests from the visitors who wanted a penalty. The incident was checked, but no spot-kick was awarded. Kamada later had another opportunity near the goal line but could not get the ball past Greif.
Lyon made Palace pay for their failure to draw level when Pavel Sulc restored the two-goal cushion in the 76th minute. Nakamura’s effort fell into his path, and Sulc redirected the ball beyond Benitez.
Palace refused to surrender. Kamada, who had brought greater urgency to their attack, reduced the deficit again with nine minutes remaining, sweeping home to set up a tense finish.
The visitors pushed for a third goal and came close from a late corner when Chris Richards rose to meet the delivery. Greif produced a excellent save, getting a hand to the header to preserve Lyon’s victory and leave Sage empty-handed on his return.
