The Top 14 clash between LOU Lyon and Stade Toulousain ended in a dramatic 17-17 draw at Gerland Stadium on Sunday, concluding the twelfth round of the French league. Despite leading at halftime, Lyon couldn’t secure the win, with Toulouse extending their unbeaten run to eight matches and sharing the top spot with Bordeaux-Bègles, both teams now tied on 41 points.
Lyon opened the match determined to shake off the recent challenges they faced, including the recent appointment of their new coach, Karim Ghezal, who took over just days before this match. Lyon's first half was characterized by disciplined play, with Leo Berdeu's kicking and Monty Ioane's stunning try just before the break allowing them to command the match at 14-7.
The first points of the match came from Berdeu, who slotted three penalties (8', 16', 19') giving Lyon the early lead. Toulouse’s Paul Graou responded with the first try of the match at the 10-minute mark, put down after what appeared to be coordinated play. Kinghorn successfully converted, bringing Toulouse up 7-3. The first half closed with Lyon displaying resilience, converting opportunities through their solid defense and counter-attacking strategies, culminating in Ioane's try at the end of the first half.
Heading down the tunnel, Lyon boasted confidence but was fully aware of the challenges posed by Toulouse, who had been dominant all season. Indeed, this match would turn out to be all the more challenging for Lyon as they entered the second half with high stakes.
After halftime, Toulouse pushed back with renewed vigor. A yellow card for Lyon's Steeve Blanc-Mappaz (59') shifted momentum, allowing Toulouse to capitalize on their numerical advantage. Blair Kinghorn leveled the score with his penalty at the 60-minute mark, followed by Théo N'Tamack's powerful try at the 64th minute, putting the score at 17-14 and giving Toulouse their first lead of the match.
Yet, with the clock ticking down, Lyon turned to their star kicker, Leo Berdeu, who had successfully converted his earlier attempts, but fate had other plans. Berdeu had two golden opportunities to snatch victory via penalties at the 67th and 76th minutes but was unable to find the target, missing both shots. His missed kicks left Lyon with a palpable sense of frustration, as the players felt they could have claimed their first win under the new coach.
The match was punctuated by sustained defensive efforts from Lyon, particularly as they battled against Toulouse’s dynamic attacks, even as Toulouse managed to disrupt Lyon's momentum through relentless pressuring and counter-rucking tactics. Lyon's defensive effort prevented many attempts from Toulouse to capitalize on scoring chances, particularly from Jelonch, who was thwarted from scoring by Saginadze's defensive pressure.
Toulouse's frustration only grew throughout the match as they dealt with their own issues, including poorly executed touch throws – with six lineouts lost – which halted their progress significantly. This was compounded by frequent penalties called against them, restricting their flow and rhythm, which was normally so prevalent.
Despite their relentless battle, Lyon and Toulouse found themselves locked on 17-17 as the match drew to its close, with neither team willing to concede the win. Both sides left the pitch realizing they had spent the match bold but lacking the precision needed to secure all the points available.
Post-match analyses pointed to the missed opportunities experienced by Lyon as they remain close to the bottom of the league, now ranked 11th, though they retain some hope with Ghezal at the helm. Meanwhile, Toulouse reflected on their performance knowing they had extended their unbeaten streak—albeit feeling they had left points behind against their rivals.
The closing moments of the match illustrated rugby’s unpredictability, with both teams attacking valiantly but unable to break through on the scoreboard. The draw kept LOU's hopes alive for climbing up the rankings, but they will need to address their missed kicks and execution errors to achieve greater success in forthcoming matches.
