Late goals by Alexsandro and Mohamed Bayo gave LOSC Lille a 2-0 win away to Toulouse FC on Saturday as the northern outfit boosted their hopes of European qualification.
Toulouse FC 0-2 LOSC Lille
THE MATCH
Lille were determined not to drop more points in the race for a top-five finish after being denied at the death by Olympique Lyonnais in a thrilling 3-3 draw last weekend. Yet it was Toulouse who almost went in front in the first half at Le Stadium as Stijn Spierings met a Branco van den Boomen corner and saw his shot strike the post on its way past (33’). The visitors’ best chance of the half followed soon after, as an Adam Ounas snapshot was turned behind by home goalkeeper Maxime Dupé (37’).
The match appeared to be drifting towards finishing in a goalless draw until Lille struck with just five minutes of the 90 remaining. Edon Zhegrova sent in a corner from the right and Brazilian defender Alexsandro rose at the back post to head home (85’).
That was not the end of the contest, however. The game was in its ninth added minute when only a brilliant reaction save from Lucas Chevalier prevented Vincent Sierro from equalising for Toulouse. Moments later a slip by Sierro allowed Mohamed Bayo to run through and finally wrap up the points for Lille (90+11’).
Lille have lost just once in their last eight Ligue 1 games now and this result lifts them above Stade Rennais FC into fifth ahead of Sunday’s matches. Toulouse, meanwhile, remain safely in mid-table but this was their fourth defeat in five league outings.
THE PLAYER: Mohamed Bayo
Jonathan David failed to add to his 19 Ligue 1 goals this season but his understudy Bayo came off the bench to net his fifth of the campaign in all competitions. All Bayo’s goals have come since the World Cup break.
THE STAT: 101
Bayo’s 101st-minute goal was the latest to be scored in Ligue 1 since Arkadiusz Milik netted in the 14th minute of injury time for Olympique de Marseille against FC Metz in May 2021.
