HARRISON, N.J. – Yoann Gourcoff scored on a break in the 75th minute and French team Olympique Lyonnais drew 2-2 with New York Red Bulls in a friendly Tuesday night at Red Bull Arena.
Lyon coach Remi Garde was impressed with the game his team got, even though the Red Bulls benefited from an own goal and gave up a late equalizer.
"It's quite like a European team," Garde said. "The soccer league is improving to the level where you have European players and American players that show some skills and good abilities. So I think the gap between the two continents is getting smaller."
After Red Bulls reserve forward Andre Akpan made an acrobatic 360-degree spin in the penalty box to score the go-ahead goal in the 61st minute, Gourcoff got free down the right flank and fired a right-footed shot that eluded Red Bulls goalkeeper Ryan Meara, making only his second appearance of the season after hip surgery.
"Aside of the first 15 minutes, I thought it was a good night," Petke said. "We did some good things. There were no injuries. We scored two goals and stayed healthy. We got a good run. My expectations for this game were that we stayed healthy and got a good run. That's what we got."
Akpan was one of several young reserves who got a chance to play with the varsity Tuesday night.
"It was a great opportunity to play against a Champions League team," Akpan said. "Everyone hopes that they get a chance to impress in a game like this. Maybe this might push me a little further and I can get in a regular game."
Lyon received an own goal in the fourth minute, then Dax McCarty scored a goal in the 31st minute to tie it. The Red Bulls played without Thierry Henry, who didn't even dress for the game against the team from his country.
Alexandre Lacazette took a shot that Red Bulls starting keeper Luis Robles stopped, but the ball trickled behind Robles and defender Jamison Olave mistakenly touched it into his own net to give Lyon 1-0 lead.
The Red Bulls had their first scoring chance in the 13th minute, when Lloyd Sam took a left-footed shot that was stopped by Lyon starting keeper Anthony Robles.
Lacazette had a solid scoring chance in the 20th minute, but his hard shot directly at Robles was stopped by the goalie's chest.
The Red Bulls finally broke through in the 31st minute, tying the score. Jonny Steele made a fine cross in front that was cleared by Milan Bisevac, but McCarty was alert and hit a right-footed shot that made its way into the net for a 1-1 tie.
In the 62nd minute, Sam made a solid run with the ball up the right flank for about 30 yards. He then passed in front to Akpan, who spun with the ball, touching it with both feet while spinning in a circle, then fired a right-footed shot past Lopes for the go-ahead goal.
Less than a minute later, Lacazzette hit the right post on a shot that beat Red Bulls goalie Ryan Meara, making only his second appearance of the season after hip surgery. Lacazzette had three excellent chances in a five-minute flurry, but failed to score.
Lyon had a chance to take the lead with three minutes remaining in regulation when Arnold Mvuemba's direct free kick from 20 yards out glazed off the crossbar.
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