Forward Jimmy Briand scored the match-tying goal and sank the winning penalty as Olympique Lyonnais defeated Montpellier Herault SC to win the 2012 Trophee Des Champions, 4-2 in penalties, after the match ended 2-2 after 90 minutes on Saturday at Red Bull Arena. Lyon came from behind twice to defeat the defending Ligue 1 champions in the annual kickoff to France’s 2012-13 season.
Lyon created one of the first good scoring chances of the match when Briand tried his luck from distance in the 15th minute. However, his well-struck shot sailed just wide of the right goal post.
Montpellier struck first, opening the scoring in the 27th minute. Utaka, the club’s leading scorer from a year ago, gathered the ball near the Lyon penalty area on the left side. Utaka dribbled around two defenders and momentarily lost possession, but regained the ball with a clear shot on goal, and fired a right footed shot past Hugo Lloris.
The teams entered the halftime break level as Lyon evened the match late in the first frame. From the left side of midfield, Yoann Gourcuff, who was named the game’s Most Valuable Player, sent a left footed cross into the penalty area, where Gomis had made his run. The Lyon striker dove forward and headed the ball into the net from about six yards out.
In the 55th minute, the referee judged that a Lyon defender had handled a Montpellier free kick in the penalty area, so the defending Ligue 1 champions were awarded a chance from the spot. Emanuel Herrera stepped up and buried the penalty, blasting it past the diving Lloris.
Minutes later Lyon nearly leveled the match. Gourcuff once again did well on the left wing, dribbling into space inside the penalty area. The French International sent a pass towards the middle to Guieda Fofana, but his first time shot rose just above the crossbar.
Lyon found the equalizer in the 77th minute. Lyon captain Cris did well to break up a Montpellier attack at the midfield line, and sprung Alexandre Lacazette down the left flank after earning possession. Lacazette floated a cross all the way across the penalty area, where Briand volleyed the ball impressively past keeper Geoffrey Jourdren.
Montpellier were reduced to 10 men in the 79th minute when midfielder Marco Estrada was shown a straight red card, but neither team could find the back of the net again as the match moved to penalties.
Both teams missed their first penalty chances, as Jourdren stopped Fofana’s attempt to start the shootout. But Montpellier couldn’t take the lead as Lloris dove to his right and stopped substitute Gaetan Charbonnier’s attempt. Lloris gave Lyon the advantage when he stopped Henri Bedimo N’Same’s attempt, and Lyon converted the rest of its chances to seal the victory.
Montpellier HSC 2, Olympique Lyonnais 2 (Lyon wins 4-2 on penalties)
July 28, 2012 – Red Bull Arena – Harrison, NJ
2012 Trophee Des Champions
Scoring Summary:
MHSC: John Utaka 27’
OL: Bafetimbi Gomis (Yoann Gourcuff) 44’
MHSC: Emanuel Herrera (penalty) 56’
OL: Jimmy Briand (Alexandre Lacazette) 77’
Disciplinary Summary:
OL: Anthony Lacazette (caution) 30’
MHSC: Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (caution) 62’
MHSC: Marco Estrada (ejection) 79’
MHSC: Henri Bedimo N’Same (caution) 80’
Montpellier Herault SC – Geoffrey Jourdren (GK), Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Hilton, Henri Bedimo N’Same, Daniel Congre, Anthony Mounier (Benjamin Stambouli 82’), Marco Estrada, Remy Cabella (Souleymane Camara 65’), Jamel Saihi, John Utaka, Emanuel Herrera (Gaetan Charbonnier 75’)
Substitutes Not Used: Laurent Pionnier (GK), Cyril Jeunechamp, Joris Marveaux, Karim Ait Fana
Olympique Lyonnais – Hugo Lloris (GK), Cris, Bakary Kone, Mouhamadou Dabo (Anthony Revieillere 82’), Aly Cissokho, Yoann Gourcuff, Guieda Fofana, Maxime Gonalons, Alexandre Lacazette, Bafetimbi Gomis (Yassine Benzia 66’), Jimmy Briand
Substitutes Not Used: Remy Vercoutre (GK), Samuel Umtiti, Clement Grenier, Jordan Ferri, Jeremy Pied
Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
Referee’s Assistants: Greg Barkey, Brian Dunn
4th Referee: Terry Vaughn
Attendance: 15,166
