Lyon 3–2 Crystal Palace: Eagles’ fightback falls short on Pierre Sage’s return

Crystal Palace suffered their first Europa League defeat as a second-half fightback fell short in a 3–2 loss on Pierre Sage’s return to Lyon.

Corentin Tolisso and Ernest Nuamah put the hosts two goals ahead before the break, leaving Palace with another comeback to mount after Sunday’s victory over Nottingham Forest.

Yeremy Pino gave the Eagles hope, but substitute Pavel Šulc restored Lyon’s two-goal cushion. Daichi Kamada’s late strike set up a tense finish without bringing an equaliser.

Palace pay for slow start

Sage recalled Axel Disasi, Óscar Mingueza and Ismaïla Sarr in three changes, with Adam Wharton captaining the side.

But Palace were behind after eight minutes. A corner was not cleared at the near post and Tolisso finished from close range.

Nuamah doubled the advantage in first-half stoppage time, beating Walter Benítez after being picked out by Keito Nakamura.

Palace responded five minutes after the restart. A worked corner routine allowed Wharton to find Pino, who fired high into the net to reduce the deficit.

Kamada gives Palace late hope

Sage introduced Kamada and Eddie Nketiah as Palace chased an equaliser, but Lyon struck again in the 76th minute when Šulc diverted the ball home from close range.

Kamada pulled another goal back five minutes later, reacting to a loose ball inside the area, but Lyon held on.

Palace remain on three points following their opening 4–0 victory over Lech Poznań. They return to Premier League action at Brighton on Sunday, with kick-off at 2pm BST.