If this was the beginning and not the middle of the season, Lyon would be a candidate for the Champions league spot, but for now, they can be happy that they decided to splash the cash in January transfer window and with them they left the relegation zone. Damage has already been done in terms of getting a high position in Ligue 1, but here is the French Cup, and Lyon took the opportunity and moved to the semi-finals after a penalty shootout against Patrick Vieira’s Strasbourg: 0-0 (4-3). In fact, this is the fourth time in the last six seasons in which Lyon have been in the French Cup semi-finals, but they have not reached the final since they last won the trophy in 2012. Paris Saint-Germain, who play Nice at home in the last eight on March 13, remain the favorites to win the competition.🇳🇬 Gift Orban helped Lyon secure a place in the Semi Finals of Coupe de France.He scored in the penalty shoot out (4-3 ) that gave Lyon victory over Strasbourg. pic.twitter.com/jY5AaBKZF7— Leagues Reporter (@LeaguesReporter) February 27, 2024 One of the most joyful moments for the coach Pierre Sage must be the fact that his team now has seven wins in the last nine games in Ligue 1 and this hard-fought win can only add to the squad’s confidence. The only worry could be the injury to captain Alexandre Lacazette, who hobbled from the field after an hour of play. Playing in front of a packed home crowd, Lyon dominated the quarter-final match-up but Maxence Caqueret and Gift Orban missed good chances, while Said Benrahma hit the post direct from a corner.With no extra time before the final the tie went straight to penalties, and goalkeeper Lucas Perri, a January signing by Lyon from Botafogo in his native Brazil, made himself a hero by saving Thomas Delaine’s kick, the first in the shoot-out. Lyon converted all of their kicks, and their place in the last four was assured when Lucas Perrin put Strasbourg’s fifth penalty over the bar. The shoot-out victory comes on the back of a run of seven wins in their last nine league outings under new coach Pierre Sage which has allowed Lyon to pull clear of the relegation zone.##NAJAVA_MECA_7909975##
