Lille scored five minutes from time to beat Liverpool 1-0 at the Stadium Lille-Metropole in the first leg of their last-16 tie in the Europa League.

Lille deserved their win over the five-time Champions League winners thanks to an Eden Hazard free kick in the 85th minute after Liverpool had failed to create any real goal scoring chances in the second half.

The home side began the game brightly and could have taking the lead as early as the first minute. Lille midfielder Yohan Cabaye drifted in field before firing a tame shot straight at Pepe Reina who managed to hold onto the ball.

Lille continued their lively start when in the tenth minute Belgian midfielder Hazard fizzed a cross right across the face of goal but thankfully for Liverpool there was no Lille player on the end of it.

Liverpool responded from Lille's early pressure by beginning to step up the pace of the game and gained the ascendancy. Fernando Torres skipped through the middle of the pitch before playing in Ryan Babel but a last ditched sliding challenge from Franck Beria turned the ball away with 14 minutes played.

Torres and Babel linked well again in the 25th minute when they exchanged a neat one-two - leaving the Dutchman one-on-one with Lille goal keeper Mickael Landreau. But the Frenchman stood strong to deny Babel who should have done better.

Lille had a half chance just after the half hour mark when forward Pierre-Alain Frau flicked over the bar from a near post driven cross by Hazard.

Reds captain Steven Gerrard nearly carved out a brilliantly goal scoring opportunity in the 34th minute when his Cruyff turn evaded the Lille defence but his curled effort drifting harmlessly over the bar.

Minutes later Liverpool had perhaps the chance of the half when Torres was fouled on the edge of the area after a great run in the 40th minute.

Gerrard stepped up to fire in the free kick, which was parried by Landreau to Glen Johnson. The full back then hung the ball up towards the back post where Torres headed down into the bottom left corner but Landreau reacted well to deny the Spaniard.

However it was Lille who ended the half on top but failed to fully test Reina. Firstly Hazard's left footed effort drifted into the arms of Reina in the 44th minute before a Yohan Cabaye free kick flew over the bar on the stroke of half time.

The second half took some time to fully get going until Babel crashed a powerful effort that was well watched and parried away by Landreau in the 60th minute.

As the game entered the final third Torres became increasingly frustrated – giving away a cheap free kick on the edge of the area. But Florent Balmont's ball in was well dealt with by Daniel Agger.

Minutes later the Dane nearly scored an embarrassing own goal when Johnson failed to clear in the 66th minute. Lille capitalised by firing the ball into the danger where Agger's outstretched leg nearly diverted the ball inside Reina's right hand post.

Torres' petulance continued and was rewarded in the 67th minute with a yellow card from referee Alan Larsen - penalising the Spanish forward for ongoing verbal abuse towards him.

Lille were beginning to threaten the Liverpool goal as the game entered the remaining 20 minutes. Firstly Cabaya drove an effort from 30 yards in the 70th minute which travelled just over the bar and then in the 76th minute Reina fumbled a Stephane Dumont shot before pouncing on the ball to deny the on rushing Pierre-Alain Frau.

But the decisive goal came in the 85th minute after Jamie Carragher had fouled Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the far left hand side of the pitch. Hazard stepped up and curled the ball beautifully towards the back post which evaded everyone and nestled into the bottom left corner of the net leaving Reina helpless.

Moments later Lille nearly doubled their lead when substitute Aubameyang's strike his the post after a delightfully lifted ball over the top from Florent Balmont.

Liverpool, finally, began to push on with minutes remaining but failed to break the Lille back line who stood strong during a goal mouth scramble in the 89th minute to deny shots from Gerrard, Torres and Lucas.

The Reds had one last gasp effort when Gerrard was played in but Lille defender Franck Beria reacted superbly to chase back the Liverpool captain and slide in to divert the ball out.
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