Lyon settle for a point

Lyon extended their unbeaten run to four matches as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Ligue 1 strugglers Valenciennes.

Lyon extended their unbeaten run to four matches as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Ligue 1 strugglers Valenciennes. Bafetimbi Gomis put Remi Garde's side ahead with a first-half header before Jean-Christophe Bahebeck struck back after the break to claim a much-needed point. The result leaves Lyon sixth in the table, while VA remain third-bottom with just 10 points from 14 games. The away side came close to opening the scoring with the first real chance of the game after 12 minutes. Loris Nery collected the ball on the left and released Rudy Mater, who was 35 yards out on the right. Mater fired a powerful right-footed shot underneath the crossbar before Lyon goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre managed to send it out for a corner. And it was the home side that took the lead five minutes later through Gomis with his fourth goal of the season. Gomis, Henri Bedimo and Alexandre Lacazette combined on the left before Bedimo crossed the ball in accurately to the far post where Gomis was waiting as he powered into the back of the net with a header to make it 1-0. Midway through the first half, Lyon came close to adding a second as Milan Bisevac crossed the ball up front toward Lacazette, who controlled the ball well and sent in a left-footed volley and the ball was dangerously deflected by Benjamin Angoua but VA stopper Nicolas Penneteau managed to block it. And just minutes later Valenciennes could have scored an equaliser as Marco Da Silva freed Gregory Pujol on the left of the penalty area, Pujol shot low but was denied by Vercoutre. The away side came out for the second half strong as they searched for a leveller. After 55 minutes Arthur Masauka set up Mater on the right of the penalty area, but the 33-year-old defender sent his thunderbolt against the post. But their goal finally came 10 minutes later after some clumsy defending from Lyon near the penalty area. Steed Malbranque tried to clear the ball but it fell in the path of Bahebeck, who swooped on it and curled it with his right foot as he slotted past a surprised Vercoutre. Both sides had a chance to claim victory in the closing stages of the match but they could not net a decider as the points were shared.