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01/03 12:18 CST Incredible Sulc! Czech midfielder scores twice as Lyon beats
Monaco in Ligue 1
Incredible Sulc! Czech midfielder scores twice as Lyon beats Monaco in Ligue 1
By Jerome Pugmire
AP Sports Writer
PARIS (AP) --- Midfielder Pavel Sulc kept his scoring run going with two goals
as fifth-placed Lyon won at struggling Monaco 3-1 in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
Sulc is one of the best signings this season in French soccer and took his
tally to 11 goals in 23 games since joining from unheralded Czech club Jablonec
in the offseason.
He netted from close range in the first half and arrowed in a fine strike from
the edge of the penalty area in the 57th minute to put Lyon back ahead, after
Mamadou Coulibaly equalized in first-half stoppage time.
Brazilian defender Abner Vinicius made it 3-1 late on as mid-table Monaco lost
for the sixth time in seven league games.
Monaco goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky went off injured early on after taking a blow
to the knee following a challenge with Sulc and was replaced by Philipp Khn.
Lyon's opening goal came in the 35th minute when Corentin Tolisso's corner from
the left was headed on by Nicolas Tagliafico and Sulc kneed the ball in from
one meter out.
Monaco equalized when Lyon's defense failed to deal with a long pass toward
forward Folarin Balogun and Coulibaly profited. Coulibaly was shown a straight
red card in the 70th for a dangerous high tackle on Tagliafico's chest.
Later Saturday, Nice hosted Strasbourg under new coach Claude Puel. He recently
replaced Franck Haise amid high tensions at Nice, which recently ended a
nine-game losing run.
In Saturday's other game, Lille faced Rennes.
Lens riding high Lens won at Toulouse 3-0 on Friday to ensure keeping top spot from Paris Saint-Germain. On Sunday, second-placed PSG hosts lowly Paris FC in the first capital city derby in the French men's league since 1990. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer |
