Europa League: Nuamah extends Lyon’s lead, Greif protects the win
Ernest Nuamah scored Lyon’s second goal in their 3–2 victory over Crystal Palace on Thursday 15 October. The Ghanaian forward capped a first half controlled by the hosts, before Palace twice cut the deficit to a single goal.
Contribution SNA · Author profile · · Updated 16/10/2026 12:59 UTC
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Lyon led by two goals at half-time. By the end, they still needed Dominik Greif to save from Chris Richards to secure all three points. Those two moments capture the limitation of the win: Lyon built their advantage more convincingly than they defended it. They nevertheless recorded their second victory in two Europa League fixtures.
Nuamah helps create the opener, then scores
Nuamah’s contribution went beyond his goal. In the eighth minute, his corner brought the ball into the penalty area, where captain Corentin Tolisso took the opportunity to open the scoring.
Nuamah’s goal in first-half stoppage time came through a different route. Khalis Merah and Keito Nakamura combined, with the Japanese forward advancing down the left before finding Nuamah to finish. The combination and final delivery created a favourable opening for the scorer.
Nakamura deserves a share of the credit for the Ghanaian’s performance. His direct running and dribbling also helped Lyon unsettle the visitors. Nuamah delivered the finish in a first half that gave his team the better of the play as well as the scoreline.
Two goals clear, twice under threat
The match changed after the break. A set-piece combination allowed Adam Wharton to find Yeremy Pino, who made it 2–1 in the 50th minute. Lyon’s two-goal cushion had been halved.
Pavel Šulc restored it in the 76th minute, diverting the ball into the net to make it 3–1. Daichi Kamada’s reply then put Palace within one goal of drawing level again. The same problem had occurred twice in one match: each comfortable lead was followed by an opposition response.
Greif still had to keep out Richards’ late header to prevent Palace from taking a point. That save preserved the reward for Lyon’s attacking efficiency. Before their European trip to Hoffenheim on 22 October, Lyon have points on the board and a specific task ahead: becoming more secure once they are in front.
Contribution SNA