VIDEO: Endrick's Crucial Goal Ends Drought and Secures Lyon a Draw Against Celta Vigo
Lyon managed to secure a crucial 1-1 draw against Celta Vigo in the Europa League round of 16 first leg thanks to a late goal by Endrick, ending his goal drought in dramatic fashion.
Lyon snatched a vital 1-1 draw against Celta Vigo in their Europa League round of 16 first leg. The breakthrough came in the final minutes when Real Madrid loanee Endrick fired a left-footed strike that slipped through goalkeeper Ionut Radu’s grasp in a shocking blunder. The goal was also a big boost for Endrick, who had gone four games without finding the net. The match began with Lyon struggling to find their rhythm in a challenging away environment. Deploying a 4-3-1-2 formation with Endrick and Roman Yaremchuk leading the line, Paulo Fonseca’s men were slow to press, allowing the Spanish side to dictate the early tempo. Celta Vigo looked dangerous from the outset, with Borja Iglesias testing the Lyon backline before the deadlock was eventually broken in the 25th minute.A swift midfield transition saw Matias Vecino release Williot Swedberg, who outpaced Clinton Mata on the wing. His precise cross found Javi Rueda, who clinically finished with his right foot to give the home side a deserved 1-0 lead. Lyon attempted an immediate response, but Endrick’s early efforts lacked the clinical edge required to trouble Radu before the half-time whistle.The second half shifted the momentum in Lyon's favour, particularly after a moment of madness from Borja Iglesias. In the 54th minute, the Celta striker was shown a straight red card for an elbow on Mata, leaving the hosts to defend their narrow lead with ten men for over half an hour.Despite the numerical advantage, Lyon’s finishing remained wasteful. Celta Vigo sat deep and defended heroically, appearing set to take a precious victory to France until the dramatic closing stages.With the clock ticking into the 87th minute, the decisive moment arrived. Endrick unleashed a speculative left-footed shot from just outside the box after jinking onto his left foot. Radu should have been able to gather the tame effort but committed a catastrophic blunder, allowing the ball to squirm under his body and into the net. The late equaliser silenced the Balaídos crowd and rescued a draw for a Lyon side that had struggled to break down ten men.Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingSpeaking after the final whistle, the Brazilian youngster couldn't hide his delight at scoring his first Europa League goal and returning to Spanish soil. "Very happy to be back in Spain, to play against Celta, who are a good team," Endrick stated. Reflecting on the tactical difficulty of the match, he explained his late efforts to break the deadlock: "They're a team that plays with a low block, and with Iglesias's sending off, they defended even deeper. I tried to go down the right wing to shoot, I'm a number 9." Lyon will hope that Endrick fires again when they host Celta in the return leg next week.
Late Drama Unfolds
The match saw Lyon struggle to find their rhythm early on, with Celta Vigo taking the lead through Javi Rueda in the 25th minute. Despite Lyon's attempts to respond, their finishing lacked sharpness in the first half.
Turning Point: Red Card Madness
The momentum shifted in Lyon's favor in the second half after Borja Iglesias received a red card in the 54th minute, reducing Celta Vigo to ten men. However, Lyon's wasteful finishing kept them at bay until the dying minutes of the game.
Endrick Saves the Day
With time running out, Endrick capitalized on a goalkeeping howler by Ionut Radu to equalize for Lyon in the 87th minute. His left-footed strike slipped through Radu's grasp, rescuing a draw for the French side.
Endrick's Redemption
After the match, Endrick expressed his happiness at scoring his first Europa League goal and facing a tough opponent in Celta Vigo. He noted the tactical challenge posed by Celta's defensive setup and his persistence in trying to break through.
Looking Ahead
Lyon will now prepare to host Celta Vigo in the return leg, hoping that Endrick's newfound form will help them secure a favorable result and progress in the competition.



