Lyon beat Crystal Palace, Sunderland snatch late Europa League win

Lyon held off Crystal Palace 3-2 in the Europa League on Thursday, while Sunderland snatched a stoppage-time winner to break the hearts of Portuguese second-division side Torreense.

Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus, Benfica and Bournemouth also won to keep their perfect starts in the league phase, Dawn reported, citing Reuters.

A painful homecoming for Sage

It was a painful return to Lyon for Palace manager Pierre Sage, whose side, the Conference League champions, suffered their fourth defeat of the season in all competitions. Lyon have now won both of their opening league-phase games.

• Lyon goals: Corentin Tolisso inside the first 10 minutes, Ernest Nuamah in first-half stoppage time and a close-range flick from Pavel Sulc
• Palace goals: Yeremy Pino early in the second half and Daichi Kamada with nine minutes left

“It’s a very disappointing return because we lost. I can’t take satisfaction from coming back home or seeing familiar faces when the result isn’t there,” Sage told UEFA.com. “The scoreline may have been close, but there was a big difference in the way the two teams played. We were nowhere near our usual standards in the first half,” Sage said.

Sunderland’s late show

Torreense, 15th in Portugal’s second tier, led after 37 minutes when centre-half Volnei Feltes beat a weak challenge and fired in from 30 yards, leaving goalkeeper Robin Roefs rooted to the spot. Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris sent on Granit Xhaka and Enzo Le Fee, and Jules Ahoka levelled soon after.

A VAR check went against Sunderland on a late penalty claim, but Noah Sadiki struck in the 93rd minute to win it 2-1. “Conceding a goal in the last minute is a blow to the chest,” said Torreense coach Carlos Simoes. “The players are in the dressing room, devastated.”

Around the grounds

• Salzburg 0-4 AC Milan: Italian teenager Alphadjo Cisse scored a hat-trick and club-record signing Goncalo Ramos added a fourth on 72 minutes, though Filippo Terracciano was sent off for Ruben Amorim’s side
• Lech Poznan 0-4 Bayer Leverkusen: Leverkusen followed their opening 2-0 win with another comfortable victory
• Bournemouth 3-0 Sturm Graz: Evanilson, Rayan and Alvaro Rodriguez scored on the club’s home debut in Europe
• Celta Vigo 1-2 Juventus: Nick Woltemade cancelled out Hugo Alvarez’s opener and Randal Kolo Muani won it in stoppage time
• Benfica 4-1 Celtic: Martin O’Neill’s side lost for the fourth time in five matches

English sides mixed

Three Premier League clubs played on Thursday: Bournemouth and Sunderland won, while Palace lost. Sunderland and Palace now turn to the Premier League, where Sunderland visit Bournemouth and Palace face Brighton in the south coast derby on Sunday.

Why it matters

Bournemouth’s first home night in Europe was a success, and Sunderland showed fight to win on the road. Palace, the Conference League holders, are struggling for form as they head into a derby with in-form Brighton. Read our reports on Manchester United’s crisis and on PSG’s win at Manchester City.

This article draws on reporting by Dawn, Reuters and AFP.