Cornet shines as Lyon roars
Maxwel Cornet starred for Lyon as the Ligue 1 side eased to a convincing 3-0 UEFA Champions League victory over Dinamo Zagreb.
The 19 year-old, starting in place of the injured Alexandre Lacazette, capped-off a superb display with a well-taken goal to put Lyon three up just before the hour-mark.
Having taken an early lead through Corentin Tolisso's brilliant header, Bruno Genesio's side dominated much of the proceedings, and doubled its tally early in the second half when Cornet teed up Jordan Ferri.
Dinamo – the weakest link in a group also containing Juventus and UEFA Europa League champion Sevilla – would have pulled one back shortly after Cornet's strike if not for a glaring miss from El Arabi Soudani.
But ultimately it was comfortable for Lyon as it moved to the top of Group H, with Juventus held to a 0-0 draw by Sevilla, which hosts the French side on 27 September.
Despite the absence of top-scorer Lacazette, Lyon started brightly, Dinamo goalkeeper Adrian Semper getting down low to his right to prevent Cornet from netting with a brilliantly-executed flick 10 minutes in.
But the 18 year-old could do nothing to deny Lyon a deserved lead three minutes later, Tolisso latching onto Rafael's cross and powering a terrific header in off the underside of the crossbar.
Dinamo should have been further behind soon after, but Maxime Gonalons – unmarked from Cornet's inswinging corner – could only direct his header over.
Gonalons took a knock to the head in the process of squandering that opportunity, and Lyon coach Genesio decided to take no risks with his captain, substituting him on the half-hour mark.
Lyon, whose 12-match unbeaten run at home was ended by Bordeaux at the weekend, saw further chances to double its lead go begging as Maciej Rybus drilled a low effort wide before Cornet had a goal disallowed for offside.
The host extended its advantage four minutes after the restart, Cornet the architect as he played a sublime through-ball into Ferri, who lofted a delightful finish over Semper.
Matters were made worse for the visitor soon after, Cornet turning from provider to goalscorer as he raced onto Tolisso's pass and slotted a low strike into the bottom-left corner.
As Lyon threatened to run riot, Dinamo searched for an immediate response, but Soudani somehow failed to convert from point-blank range – shinning an effort against the crossbar before hammering over on the rebound.
Soudani was involved again as Dinamo lodged their next meaningful attack, dragging an audacious volley wide with just under 20 minutes remaining.
Cornet received a standing ovation from the Lyon faithful as he made way shortly after, though there was to be one more chance for Dinamo – substitute Mario Situm prodding a shot against the woodwork as the visitor failed to claim a consolation from a comprehensive defeat.