Lyon beats Lorient 3-1 in French league

PARIS (AP) -- Lyon bounced back from its Europa League exit by defeating Lorient 3-1 on Sunday to put pressure on French league leader Paris Saint-Germain.

Meanwhile, Bordeaux lost 2-0 to Brest to drop to 10th place to prolong its league struggles since Yoan Gouffran's departure for Newcastle in January.

Lorient took the lead in the 10th minute when Lyon goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre could only palm a header from Jeremie Aliadiere into his own net.

But Argentine striker Lisandro Lopez equalized by receiving a pass from Alexandre Lacazette to score in the 23rd. Lyon survived a scare in the 31st when Lorient midfielder Kevin Monnet-Paquet hit the post.

Lyon winger Rachid Ghezzal put his team ahead in the 51st by slotting in from close range after goalkeeper Fabien Audard had parried a header from Lopez. Substitute Arnold Mvuemba added a third goal in stoppage time.

"Mental toughness helped us," Lisandro Lopez said. "I've always said that we play to be champions knowing there's PSG in our way. As long as it's possible, I'll keep believing."

Lyon went provisionally level on points at the top of the league with PSG, which hosts third-place Marseille later on Sunday.

Lyon conceded a late goal on Thursday to draw 1-1 with Tottenham and lose 3-2 on aggregate in the Europa League.

"We had to leave Thursday's match behind," Lyon midfielder Steed Malbranque said. "We had a rough start. But then we reacted and it was better. The squad has qualities. We focus on one match at a time. We take care of ourselves and not of PSG."

Bordeaux qualified for the last 16 of the Europa League by edging out Dynamo Kiev 1-0 on Thursday to win 2-1 on aggregate, but it is performing poorly in the French league.

Bordeaux conceded an own goal through defender Benoit Tremoulinas, who diverted the ball into his own net from a long-range strike by Brest midfielder Mario Licka in the 19th.

Brest captain Ahmed Kantari doubled the lead with a penalty in the 83rd after Bordeaux center back Ludovic Sane had fouled Larsen Toure.

On Saturday, it was: Nancy 0, Saint-Etienne 3; Rennes 2, Sochaux 2; Evian 0, Montpellier 1; Ajaccio 1, Lille 3; Valenciennes 0, Toulouse 0; and Troyes 0, Bastia 0.

Nice beat Reims 2-0 on Friday to consolidate fourth place.