Match Report: Late LOSC equaliser denies VCF the win (1-1)

Valencia CF were back in Champions League action to take on Lille Olympique Sporting Club on Matchday 3 at 9 pm kick-off time (CET) at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium where they looked to return to winning ways.  

Valencia CF had a slow start to the game with Lille Olympique in possession and Valencia CF trying to settle into the game. The first Valencia CF chance fell to Geoffrey Kondogbia but the Frenchman headed it wide of the right post on seven minutes.  

Fellow Frenchman Kevin Gameiro had the first clear-cut chance just under the quarter hour mark when Daniel ball delivered a square pass into Gameiro’s stride whose shot went straight at the LOSC keeper.

The game saw a stagnant passage of play halfway through the first half as both side were knocking the ball about well but failing to provide anything in the way of danger.

LOSC struck the crossbar in the closing minutes as the first half-finished goalless at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium with nothing to separate the sides at half-time.

Geoffrey Kodogbia made way for Carlos Soler at the restart. The same script followed in the second half but with Valencia CF side that were enjoying more of the ball as the minutes went on which bore fruit over the hour mark.

Denis Cheryshev drew first blood for Valencia over the hour mark following a brilliant one-touch move between Parejo and Maxi Gomez who sent a great ball out wide for Gameiro who squared into Denis Cheryshev who showed his composure before slotting it past Maignan.

The hosts pilled some pressure on Valencia CF following the goal pegging Celades' side back looking for the equaliser and asking questions of the steely Valencia CF backline which held firmly.

Valencia CF were down to ten men for a double booking for Mouctar Diakhaby in the closing minutes of the match and mitutes later, there was was another nasty twist in the tale as Jonathan Ikoné denied Valencia CF the win right at the death scoring the equaliser.

Valencia CF turn their attention to their upcoming LaLiga fixture against newly promoted side Club Atletico Osasuna on Sunday 27th of October at 9 pm kick-off time at El Sadar on Matchday 10 of LaLiga Santander.

Match Details:

1. LOSC: Maignan, Zeki Celik, Fonte ©, Tiago Djaló (Bamba, m. 86), Bradaric, Gabriel, Yusuf Yazici (Remy, m. 71), Soumaré, André, Aràujo (Ikoné, m. 65) and Osimhem

1. Valencia CF: Cillessen, Wass, Diakhaby, G. Paulista, J. Costa, Parejo ©, Kondogbia (Carlos Soler, m. 46), Coquelin, Cheryshev (Garay, m. 86), Gameiro (Kang In, m. 65) and Maxi Gómez.

Goals: 0-1. M. 62: Cheryshev. 1-1. M. 94: Ikoné.Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Germany). He booked Celik and Araujo for LOSC and Maxi Gómez for Valencia CF and sent off Diakhaby in the 84th minute for a double booking.

Observations: Matchday 3 of Group H of the UEFA Champions League played at the Stade Pierre Mouroy before about 50,000 spectators, with the presence of about 300 Valencia CF fans in the stands.