Chapocoense lose again in Lyon tribute match

DÉCINES-CHARPIEU, France: Tragedy-hit Chapecoense played a second match inside 24 hours on Tuesday and lost for the second time in Europe as Lyon beat them 2-1 in a friendly.

On Monday, 65,000 people packed into the Camp Nou to see Barcelona thrash the Brazilians 5-0 on an emotional night to honour the club decimated by an air disaster last year.

On their way to the Copa Sudamerica final to play Atletico Nacional last November, 19 players and 24 club officials were amongst 71 people killed when their plane crashed in Colombia.

Three surviving players from that crash were given a standing ovation before the match in Barcelona, but Tuesday night’s game was a more low-key affair in front of just 1,500 people at Lyon’s training ground.

Tulio de Melo opened the scoring for the Brazilians on 15 minutes but goals from Myziane Maolida (25) and Amine Gouiri (65) gave the French side, who aligned a second string team, victory.

One of the three injured players, Alan Ruschel, came on as a substitute against Lyon having also played 35 minutes against Barca.

Nieto hopes to return to action in 2018 while goalkeeper Jakson Follman’s career is over after having part of his right leg amputated after the crash.

“The match was important but less so than the tribute paid by Lyon,” goalscorer Tulio told Lyon TV.

“The most important thing is the solidarity shown by clubs after what’s happened.”

Chapecoense will head to Japan next to take on Urawa Red Diamonds in Tokyo.