Tino Breaks Lyon’s PSG jinx

By Ray Munyoro

Olympique Lyonnais ended an over a decade winless streak over Paris Saint-Germain after a 1-0 win in a league encounter on Sunday.
Zimbabwe international Tino Kadewere got the only goal of the game as Lyon beat PSG at the Parc des Princes – a result which leaves Rudi Garcia’s side joint-top with LOSC with 29 points.
This was Lyon’s first win in Paris in 14 attempts.
The last time Les Gones picked up all three points at the Parc was all the way back in October 2007 when Hatem Ben Arfa – who later turned out for PSG – struck twice in a 3-2 win with Lyon on the march to their record seventh consecutive Ligue 1 title.
Kadewere’s goal was his fifth of the season in Ligue 1, meaning Lyon have three different players on five or more top-flight goals this season (Toko Ekambi, Memphis Depay and Kadewere).
It is more than any other side across Europe’s big five leagues, with only PSG (33) and Lille (26) having netted more than Lyon in Ligue 1.
Speaking after the match, Kadewere, who has made himself impossible for Garcia to drop, described the win as “wonderful”.
“It was wonderful for me. I’m happy to have scored and to have come away with the win,” said Kadewere.
Kadewere was tipped for a bit-part role following his summer arrival from Le Havre AC but is turning out to be the main man.
Back to the match, Lyon started on the front foot, though PSG went closest in the opening stages when Alessandro Florenzi volleyed wide from angle.
Lyon were rewarded for their pressure 35 minutes into the game when Presnel Kimpembe passed the ball to Toko Ekambi, who set up Kadewere to slot home.
PSG also came close when Florenzi was denied by Anthony Lopes, in goal for Lyon just before the break. The Parisians, in search of an equalizer, turned to Kylian Mbappé just after the hour mark.
That was after Lucas Paqueta came close to double the visitors’ lead had it not been Keylor Navas’ fine stop.
Brazilian star Neymar was a frustrated lot after he was ‘pocketed’ for the better part of the game by Paqueta.
He was later stretchered off after an awkward challenge from Mendes. Nhau/Indaba