UCL draw: Messi vs. Neymar, Ronaldo at Porto

Nine-man Gent claim point against Lyon in Champions League opener

17/09/2015

Gent fought back to clinch a point in a heroic display after having two men sent off in their first ever Champions League group match which ended 1-1 against Lyon.

The Belgian champions, who had Brecht Dejaegere and Thomas Foket both sent off in their Group H opener, fell behind to Christophe Jallet's second-half header but hit back through Danijel Milicevic's super strike.

Gent goalkeeper Matz Sels saved the day for the home side in the 88th minute when he denied Alexandre Lacazette from the penalty spot.

Dejaegere almost gave Gent a dream start but his second-minute effort was well saved by Anthony Lopes and soon after Laurent Depoitre's shot rattled the crossbar after being brilliantly diverted by the outstretched Lyon goalkeeper.

The Belgian champions were finding plenty of space and Lopes was called on to deny Nana Asare before Lyon responded through Rafael's free-kick from out wide.

Lopes saved comfortably from skipper Sven Kums as Gent continued to press in the first half and within a minute Depoitre thought he had scored, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside.

Renato Neto was next to test Lopes, but Lyon survived and threatened again when Lacazette's shot was saved by Sels, while Lyon's Claudio Beauvue was off target from a corner.

Gent were reduced to 10 men in the 41st minute when Dejaegere was shown a straight red card for a high challenge on Lyon midfielder Maxime Gonalons, but Neto spurned another chance for the home side just before the break.

Sels made a brilliant save at full stretch to keep out Lyon striker Lacazette's fine shot early in the second half as the French side made their numerical advantage pay.

Lyon took the lead in the 58th minute when Jallet beat his marker at the near post to head home a corner.

But Gent refused to surrender and were back on level terms within 10 minutes when Milicevic cut in from the right to fire a thunderbolt beyond Lopes into the far corner.

The hosts were dealt another blow with three minutes left when Foket was dismissed for pulling down Lacazette in the area.

The Lyon striker picked himself up to take the subsequent penalty but Sels produced a brilliant one-handed save to keep it out and earn Gent a memorable point.

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