Match Chronicle – Lyon 20 – 18 Wasps

Leo Berdeu and Yanis Charcosset score tries, while Berdeu adds two penalties and two conversions as Lyon defeat Wasps in the European Challenge Cup semi-finals; Dan Robson and Jimmy Gopperth scored tries for the Wasps, while Gopperth kicked two penalties and a conversion

Try scorer Yanis Charcosset celebrates Lyon’s win over Wasps

Wasps withdrew from the European Challenge Cup at the semi-final stage after being beaten 20-18 by a mighty Lyon side at Matmut Stadium.

Lyon will face either Toulon or Saracens at Marseille’s Stade Velodrome in what will be their first final in any competition since 1933.

Leo Berdeu chipped in 15 points for Lyon, including a try, while Yanis Charcosset also scored.

Wasps scored two tries courtesy of Dan Robson and Jimmy Gopperth, who also had eight points.

This semi-final may have been played in 30-degree heat, but it didn’t stop either side from playing the game at a high tempo.

Lyon warned the Wasps in the first five minutes with a counterattack that went from one 22 to the other.

The Wasps held on that time and had the best of the first half, with their set pieces earning them field position.

It took 24 minutes for both teams to get on the scoreboard.

A tremendous 50/22 from Jacob Umaga gave Wasps an attacking line-out just five meters from Lyon’s try line.

With Lyon’s forwards tied to the maul, Robson managed to slip away from close range.

Lyon finally turned the pressure into points in the 35th minute with a penalty scored from 40 meters at an angle by Berdeu.

Wasps took an 8-3 halftime lead after Gopperth scored three points off the kicking tee.

The visitors blew the traps early in the second half, with Tom Willis hitting a tremendous angle to charge into the Lyon 22. They besieged the Lyon line, but the hosts’ defense remained intact.

Lyon hit back with possibly the best try scored in this season’s Challenge Cup. Former New Zealand center Charlie Ngatai ran from deep in his own half, with the ball extended to both Baptiste Couilloud and Toby Arnold, who was brought down just outside Wasps 22.

With the Wasps defense on sixes and sevens, Guillaume Marchand’s pass put Berdeu over the top for an impressive score.

Berdeu converted his own try to put Lyon ahead, but Wasps regained the lead thanks to a Gopperth boot four minutes later.

However, the Lyon pack had the bite between their teeth, with their forwards overtaking the gain line with ease.

Former Saracens lock Joel Kpoku charged down the line, and replacement hooker Charcosset finally broke through from close range.

After missing two penalties, Berdeu turned the game into two points with a successful penalty.

The Wasps desperately tried to force his way back into the game and Dan Frost had a try disallowed after the TV match referee saw Francois Hougaard knock the ball forward in the run up.

But the visitors set up a grandstand finish when Gopperth scored courtesy of a well-crafted driving line-out.

The Kiwi kicked the conversion to make it 20-18 with four minutes remaining, but it was too late for Wasps.