Lyon kept pace with rival PSG at the top of the Division 1 Féminine table by beating Soyaux 2-1 on Sunday afternoon.
After opening the season last weekend with a commanding 5-1 victory over Stade Reims behind a Daniëlle van de Donk brace, Lyon found things more difficult on the grounds of the Groupama OL Training Center.
The match required a moment of magic from American midfielder Lindsey Horan in the 32nd-minute to open the scoring. After failing to get off the bench in Lyon's first game, Horan started alongside Van de Donk and Sara Däbritz in a three-woman midfield.
When Lyon won a free kick 25 yards out and directly central to goal, it was the 28-year-old USWNT star who took responsibility and curled an unstoppable right-footed effort into the corner with the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.
HORAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN! ☄️#WatchWithAta #D1Arkema pic.twitter.com/5wsQN4kq6w
— ata football (@atafball) September 18, 2022
Delphine Cascarino scored Lyon's second in the 77th-minute, which turned out to be the vital strike since Soyaux got one back in the 93rd.
COAST TO COAST#WatchWithAta #D1Arkema pic.twitter.com/Sl9ZzzjIHS
— ata football (@atafball) September 18, 2022
Stoppage time thrills presented to you by... Soyaux!#WatchWithAta #D1Arkema pic.twitter.com/Z1MtPA8QeY
— ata football (@atafball) September 18, 2022
Horan's good form is a plus for the USWNT, which is now just weeks out from a pair of massive friendlies abroad. First, the U.S. travels to Wembley to play European champion England on Oct. 7. Then, four days later on Oct. 11, the U.S. heads to Pamplona to play Spain at El Sadar.