lyon held by rijeka in croatia published: thursday 7 november 2013, 23.00cet
hnk rijeka 1-1 olympique lyonnais
andrej kramarić's splendid strike earned rijeka a point and ensured lyon remain in what looks like a three-way tussle to qualify from group i.
uefa europa league group i remains enticingly poised after hnk rijeka held olympique lyonnais to a 1-1 draw in croatia.
lyon must have been hopeful of assuming control of the section when alassane pléa gave them an early lead, but andrej kramarić's splendid strike earned the hosts a share of the spoils. the result leaves lyon second on six points, two behind leaders real betis balompié, who earned a late 1-0 win at vitória sc. guimarães have four points, with rijeka bottom on two.
looking to prolong their four-match unbeaten home run in europe this season, rijeka had a fine opportunity to go in front after 11 minutes, leon benko stabbing wide from zoran kvržić's right-wing cross. they were made to pay just three minutes later, when yoann gourcuff headed gaël danic's corner back across goal and pléa poked in from close range.
however, matjaž kek's team were level midway through the second half thanks to kramarić, who controlled deftly before unleashing a stunning 25-metre shot which whistled past lyon goalkeeper mathieu gorgelin and into the net.
lyon had drawn two of their first three fixtures and rarely looked like taking anything more than a solitary point back home from this croatian seaport. though there were half-chances for the likes of gourcuff and jimmy briand, rémi garde's charges seldom posed a serious threat.
