Nine-man Gent claim heroic 1-1 draw with Lyon in Group H

Gent overcame the disadvantage of two dismissals to come from behind and draw 1-1 with Lyon in Group H.

The Champions League newcomers finished with nine men but the goalkeeper Matz Sels made a one-handed penalty save just two minutes from time to ensure a share of the spoils in a dramatic game at the Artevelde Stadium. “It was so tough after the [first] red card but we managed it,” the Gent forward Laurent Depoitre said. “It was great to get a point. It feels like a victory considering.”

The Belgian club’s debut in Europe’s premier club competition threatened to turn into a nightmare after Brecht Dejaegere was sent off four minutes before half-time for a studs-up challenge, a decision that seemed harsh on the part of the Scottish referee Willie Collum.

Dejaegere was in tears as he departed and he would have felt even worse 13 minutes into the second half when Lyon opened the scoring with the substitute defender Christophe Jallett expertly heading home a corner.

But the lead lasted just 10 minutes as Danijel Milicevic equalised after a strong run down the wing.

With two minutes left, Thomas Foket was dismissed for a tug from behind after being caught on the wrong side of Lyon’s teenage substitute Aldo Kalulu and Lyon were awarded a penalty.

Alexandre Lacazette, seeking to end a recent goal drought, stepped up to take the spot-kick but saw Sels stick up his hand to turn the effort over the crossbar.

The Belgians, who won a first domestic title in their 115-year history in May, have been struggling this year with only two victories in seven games, but they made a bright start. The Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes was forced to save from Dejaegere after just two minutes and then getting a slight touch to a shot from Depoitre which thundered back off the crossbar seven minutes later.

Renato Neto missed a chance to give Gent the lead on the stroke of half-time and despite the setbacks, the Belgians proved equal to a French team with considerable Champions League experience.