Lacazette ends Chornomorets adventure

Alexandre Lacazette smashed Olympique Lyonnais through to the UEFA Europa League round of 16 with a stunning winner to eliminate FC Chornomorets Odesa.

Lacazette received the ball from captain Clément Grenier in the 80th minute, cut inside and unleashed a right-foot curler beyond Yevhen Past to seal an attritional tie not long after the visitors had Evgeniy Zubeiko dismissed for a second bookable offence. Lyon will now take on FC Viktoria Plzeň in the round of 16.

As in last week's round of 32 first leg in Ukraine, both sides maintained their discipline and shape on and off the ball, with slippery conditions suggesting that set pieces might prove crucial. Grenier's free-kick from 30 metres bounced awkwardly in front of Past and Lyon had a scare of their own when Ivan Bobko's free-kick occasioned some penalty-area pinball, culminating in Olexiy Gai's close-range header drifting wide.

Further blows were traded. Gueïda Fofana let fly from 25 metres and found his space carved down by the lunging Leo Matos; Gai lined one up from an identical position at the other end but Anthony Lopes got both hands firmly behind the effort.

Knowing one blow might end the bout, Roman Grygorchuk's team returned after the restart with added gusto, coming close when Markus Berger's delicate header rebounded off the face of a post and almost into the path of the onrushing Pablo Fontanello.

That near-miss brought Rémi Garde's Lyon to life. Jinking his way out of a tight pocket on the right, Lacazette teed up Bafétimbi Gomis who, leaning back, prodded over the top from ten metres. However, with Chornomorets visibly tiring, Lyon sensed further openings.

Chornomorets did not buckle after Zubeiko was sent off on 76 minutes, though, Anderson Mineiro typifying their approach with an angled drive that drew a save from Lopes. Yet their spirit was crushed with ten minutes to play when Lacazette was fed by Grénier to send Lyon through.