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Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE international striker Tino Kadewere played the last 24 minutes as bottom-placed Olympique Lyon thrashed Toulouse 3-0 for only their second win of the season in the French Ligue 1 on Sunday.
Lyon captain, Alexandre Lacazette, fired his side to a comprehensive victory against 15th-placed Toulouse, allowing them to reduce the gap from safety to three points, after 15 matches.
The former champions are under the guidance of interim coach Pierre Sage, who replaced Fabio Grosso.
The Italian, who suffered serious head injuries in a recent bus attack, was dismissed last week for poor results.
It was Kadewere’s ninth appearance for Lyon this season, the seventh as a second half substitute and he is yet to find the target.
He was given a rating of 5.5 out of 10 for Sunday’s performance, better than fellow substitutes Diego Moreira (5.4) and Kumbedi Nseke (5.2) together with starters Clinton Mata (5.0), Maxence Caqueret (4.9) and Nicolas Tagliafico (4.6).
The hat-trick from former Arsenal man Lacazette earned Ligue 1’s bottom club an invaluable win in the race for survival against the side just above the relegation zone.
“It’s a relief to be able to score, to be useful to the team in the way that’s expected of me. It makes you feel a bit lighter,” said Lacazette.
“We’re still in the same position (last), but we’re going to take it one step at a time, stay humble and keep working.”
A saved penalty at the end of the first period had offered Toulouse a lifeline, but they did not seize it on a day that Lyon stalwarts Anthony Lopes and Lacazette showed their quality.
Lyon’s first win since the sacking of coach Fabio Grosso moved the seven-times French champions up to 10 points, just three behind their opponents.
Two goals in four minutes just before the half-hour mark sent Lyon on their way to an impressive win at the Groupama Stadium.
Lyon defended stoutly in the second period and looked to have ensured a very important three points at a crucial moment in the season.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe international midfielder Marshal Munetsi remains sidelined at Stade de Reims after injury while on national duty last month.
On Sunday Nice benefited from a late goalkeeping error by Yehvann Diouf to beat Reims 2-1.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter