U21 Report: Saints 3-4 Lyon

The French visitors took the lead through a well-struck Breyton Fougeu free-kick just before half-time, and doubled their tally shortly after half time through Romain Perret.

Perret added his second of the game with a smart header just before the hour mark.

Saints completed an unlikely comeback as they hauled themselves level thanks to Princewill Ehibhatiomhan and a Tyler Dibling brace, but Lyon struck once more at the death to seal the victory.

New Head Coach Adam Asghar took charge for the first time and made just once change from Saints’ rout against Reading five days earlier, with Jay Robinson coming into the starting line-up for Kamari Doyle.

Adam Asghar took charge for the first time. (Photos: Isabelle Field)

Saints made their return to the Premier League International Cup for the first time since the 2019/20 season and took time to adjust to the high intensity of their French opponents.

Romain Perret, who scored a brace in Lyon’s 3-1 win over Chelsea in their first group game, had the game’s first chance as he met a cross but could only direct his header over the crossbar.

Adli Mohamed was called into action for the first time, in what proved to be a busy evening between the sticks, as he denied Islamdine Halifa at the near post after a mazy run.

The lively Halifa was found in space again moments later, this time on the right flank but he blazed his shot over the crossbar after shifting his feet well.

Either side of the half hour mark, Mohamed was called into action again, making two important saves with his feet to deny Perret from close range and Fougeu after a rapid counter-attack.

Saints began to get into the game after the half hour as Sam Amo-Ameyaw, who was kept quiet in the opening exhanges, let fly from range but saw his left-footed attempt fly wide.

Jayden Meghoma in action against Lyon.

Zach Awe then headed wide from an Amo-Ameyaw free-kick, before Bragg blazed over from the edge of the box as Saints enjoyed a spell of chances.

Bragg played a pinpoint ball through the defence to release Jay Robinson in the area, who was denied a shooting chance by an excellent recovery tackle.

The deadlock was broken before half-time, but it was the visitors who did so as Fougeu hit an excellent free-kick over the wall and into the bottom corner.

Lyon’s lead was then doubled just minutes after the restart in unfortunate fashion from Saints’ perspective - the ball bounced around in the area before eventually falling to Perret, whose shot slipped through the hands of Mohamed.

Mohamed made amends minutes later with a vital one-on-one save to palm Halifa’s powerful shot away from the path of Perret.

However, Lyon did find their third as Perret scored his second brace of the competition with an impressive header that nestled in the far corner to seemingly seal all three points.

Saints needed an unlikely comeback to get back into the game.

Saints weren’t going down without a fight though, and reduced the deficit in the 71st minute as Ehibhatiomhan turned and found the bottom corner after Jayden Meghoma’s driving run and cut-back assist.

Dibling then began to come alive as space started to open up in Lyon’s defence as he was denied a solo goal by a diving save.

He wasn’t to be kept out for long as, in the 80th minute, he slid in to convert substitute Jake Vokins’s low cross and spark the game into life in the closing stages.

Just two minutes later, Dibling had his second and the remarkable comeback was complete in dramatic fashion; Saints’ midfielder raced onto Cam Bragg's through ball and hit a powerful shot across goal into the far corner.

There was still time for one final cruel twist to the tale as Lyon restored their lead at the death when substitute Djibrail Dib hooked a cross over his head and into the side netting to spark wild celebrations from the visitors.

Saints: Mohamed, Davis, Armitage, Awe, Meghoma, Bragg (c), Amo-Ameyaw, Robinson (Vokins 59), Ehibhatiomhan, Dibling, Merry (Edwards 59).

Subs not used: McNamara, Lett, Hewlett, Miles, Stepien-Iwumene.

Goals: Ehibhatiomhan 71, Dibling 80, 82.

Yellow Cards: Dibling 73, Bragg 90+5.

Lyon: Bengui Joao, Alamine, Chaib, Mounesse, Djime, de Carvalho (Mbatshi 75), Fougeu (Gueye 66), Halifa, Perret (Dib 75), Bossiwa (Fall 57), Djebali (Coponat 66).

Subs not used: Iala, Konan.

Goals: Fougeu 45+1, Perret 49, 59, Iala 90+3.

Yellow Cards: Gueye 77, Fall 90+6.