Crystal Palace played their part in an end-to-end contest away at European regulars Olympique Lyonnais, but fell to a 2-3 defeat in France.
The Eagles’ first-ever UEFA Europa League away match got off to a difficult start as strikes from Corentin Tolisso and Ernest Nuamah gave a more efficient Lyon team a two-goal lead at the break.
But a much-improved second-half display saw Yéremy Pino – from an excellent set-piece – and Daichi Kamada – from close range – twice reduce the deficit, either side of Pavel Sulc’s cute third for Lyon.
Nevertheless, Palace were undone in France, despite a late barrage in pursuit of an equaliser.
Fresh from an emphatic first home Premier League win of the season over Nottingham Forest, the Eagles took to France for a first European away game of the season – seeking a fourth continental win on the bounce.
Pierre Sage shuffled his pack upon his return to his former club, making three changes to his starting XI, with Ismaïla Sarr making his first start of the season and Óscar Mingueza and Axel Disasi also returning from the off.
But just as they did at the weekend, Palace began the game slowly, going behind after just eight minutes to a scrappy Lyon goal from Corentin Tolisso.
An early corner delivered into the six-yard box ricocheted off the chest of the jumping Jaydee Canvot – and Lyon captain Tolisso, from right in front of goal, had the simple task of hooking home.
Contrary to that fast start – and the end-to-end nature of Sunday’s match at Selhurst Park – this contest soon settled into a much tighter affair, devoid of any real fluency from either side.
Near the half-hour mark, it did open up slightly, Walter Benítez – the hero of Sunday’s victory – punching importantly away from the head of Ernest Nuamah, before – at the other end – Lyon ‘keeper Dominik Greif tipped over Sarr’s glancing header from Pino’s early cross, the referee contentiously awarding a handball against the Palace man.
But for the lack of chances, Lyon did have one dangerman – winger Keito Nakamura – whose quick feet saw him drift past the challenge of Chris Richards and square towards Nuamah. Six yards out, Canvot produced a big block for his side.
But the reprieve was to prove temporary – a rare moment of attacking quality in the first-half seeing a threaded pass, and a clever touch from Khalis Merah, free up Nakamura down the left-hand side. Nuamah was on the charge – and poked home at the near post.
Palace could consider themselves unfortunate to go in two goals down, having largely contained their hosts – but at the same time, no shots on target at the break also will have frustrated Sage and his charges.
The Eagles began the second 45, however, with much more attacking bite – and, having fallen victim to an early set-piece in the first-half, were the beneficiaries of one not long after the interval.
This one was a beautifully well-worked corner from Palace, a set-piece straight off the training ground seeing Pino take it short, the ball go back towards Tyrick Mitchell and Adam Wharton – and the latter’s first-time pass reach Pino in space, having drifted into the box.
His crashed finish left Greif sprawling at the near post – and Palace were back in the game.
The momentum was theirs, and the Eagles threatened twice in the next few moments, Jørgen Strand Larsen heading over from Wharton’s deep corner and Sarr’s flashed ball across goal palmed away from the attackers by Greif.
Heading into the final quarter of the game, there was certainly all to play for.
Lyon were next to go close but Abner became the latest attacker to find beating Benítez a challenge, his looping header tipped over the bar by the Argentina international.
Up the other end, substitute Daichi Kamada appeared to burst into the box for Palace and went down under the upper body challenge of Zachary Athekame – what looked like a promising penalty appeal waved away.
The Japan international was involved in front of goal moments later as Palace stepped up a gear – but a cross from the left did not fall kindly enough for him to get a shot away.
With 15 minutes remaining, what appeared to be the dagger.: Athekame burst down the right, his cross was flicked goalwards, without much pace, by Nakamura. But Pavel Sulc – stood in front of Benítez – reacted sharply and diverted the ball in from close range.
Yet again, Palace were not bowed, and five minutes later stayed in the contest when Anan Khalaili burst down the right. His cross was intercepted by Tyler Morton but only half-cleared, a deflection presenting it kindly to Kamada – who ruthlessly lashed home to get his team back in it once more.
That paved the way for waves of late Palace pressure, Eddie Nketiah in particular doing well to win his team a late corner after appearing to be marked down an avenue.
In came the near-post delivery from Wharton, met on the charge by a brilliant Richards run and header – but matched, sadly, by a fine Greif reflex save.
It was as close as Palace would come – Lyon the beneficiaries of the three points on this occasion.
Lyon: Greif (GK), Vinicius, Kluivert, Bacher, Athekame, Morton, Nartey (Tessman, 78), Tolisso (Bidstrup, 90+1), Merah (Sulc, 70), Nuamah (Boudache, 70), Nakamura.
Subs: Bengul (GK), Descamps (GK), Mata, Kamara, Kango, Niakhate, Duranville, Nakamura.
Palace: Benítez (GK), Disasi, Richards, Canvot, Mingueza (Khalaili, 75), Timber (McNeil, 86), Wharton, Mitchell, Pino (Osorio, 75), Sarr (Kamada, 63), Strand Larsen (Nketiah, 63).
Subs: Matthews (GK), Benetton (GK), Ahanor, Benamar, Hughes.
