Lacazette shines as Lyon beats Ajaccio 2-1 in French league

LYON (AP) -- Alexandre Lacazette scored a goal and assisted on his return to Lyon, where he beat promoted Ajaccio 2-1.

Lacazette set up Brazilian winger Tete who scored the opening goal in the 12th minute.

Tete was a problem for the Ajaccio defense. With a long-range, dipping strike in the seventh, he forced Benjamin Leroy to make a save.

After CedricAvinel fouled Tete in the penalty spot, Lacazette doubled his lead in the 22nd.

He was raised at the Lyon youth academy. He was a member of the first team between 2010-17, before moving to Arsenal for a five-year stint in English Premier League.

After goalkeeper Anthony Lopes crashed into forward Mounaim El Itrissy of Ajaccio, the hosts were in serious trouble. Thomas Mangani converted the penalty to win one back in the 31st.

The French league is not well-known as a league for butchers. The game became more violent and tense. Romain Hamouma, forward for Ajaccio, and Lacazette were both booked in the 32nd for their participation in a brawl following Thiago Mendes's fouling El Idrissy.

Ajaccio was down to 10 men at the end of the halftime when Hamouma was given a second yellow card after he swung an elbow into Lucas Paqueta.

The second half was more civilized, with only one yellow card during stoppage time.

Remy Riou, Lyon backup goalkeeper, saved Riad Nouri’s chip in the 59th. El Idrissy's angled strike was stopped in the 60th.

Lacazette expressed concern about his team's second-half performance, saying that "there are still fears of last year of getting hit on a fast break at the game's end and dropping points." "We aren't confident enough in the game to win and continue playing comfortably until the end."

Lyon, who was eighth last season, the club’s worst finish since 1997, is now under the control of John Textor, an American owner.

Saturday will see the defending champion Paris Saint-Germain visit Clermont, while Strasbourg hosts Monaco.