Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes came away with a solid result on Sunday afternoon after drawing with second place Lyon at Stade Municipal de Gerland in Lyon.
Bocanegra started in defense for head coach Frédéric Antonetti and went the full 90 minutes however the California native received a yellow card in the 43rd minute meaning he will be suspended for next week's encounter.
The rainy conditions in eastern France played right into the hands of Antonetti whose strategy was to have Bocanegra and the Rennes defense lock down any Lyon scoring threat and use the quick counter as their primary source of offense.
The head man was made to look like a genius in the 14th minute when Asamoah Gyan helped execute the game plan and scored for the visitors.
Ismaël Bangoura's long ball was poorly handled by the Lyon defense and Gyan was there to capitalize and beat Lyon goalkeeper Hugh Lloris for the goal. The Ghanian striker had been battling injuries all week but was cleared to play Sunday and brought his goal total on the season to nine.
Gyan's strike woke up Lyon who pressed for the equalizer and eventually got it in the 42nd minute when Lisandro Lopez perfectly curled a free kick over the Rennes wall and into the back of the net.
A flurry of offensive activity for Rennes bookended the second half as Gyan once again struck fear in the heart of the hosts' defense with an effort just minutes after halftime. Then, an 86th minute shot by Fabien Lemoine struck the post nearly giving Les Rouges Et Noirs the upset victory but the woodwork proved to be an ample 12th man for the home team.
The draw keeps Rennes in 10th place with 20 points as Antonetti's squad next face Lorient at home without the suspended Bocanegra. |
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