Substitute Gift Orban scored a brace off the bench to earn Lyon's first points of the season in a thrilling 4-3 comeback win over Strasbourg on Friday.

After making a slow start to the season, Lyon are off the mark thanks to three goals created by Orban after the visitors had stretched their lead.

Strasbourg made a lightning-quick start, catching their hosts on the break with a fast counter. Dilane Bakwa's low cross was too pacy for Emanuel Emegha, but Sebastian Nanasi kept the move alive before slotting under Lucas Perri.

Lyon's pressure paid off in stoppage time though, as Georges Mikautadze latched onto a loose backpass, and though Alexandre Lacazette struck the post, Corentin Tolisso emphatically buried the rebound.

The hosts were punished for another slow start in the second half though, as Andrey Santos scored after three minutes before Emegha kept his cool in a one-on-one with Perri, slotting it under the goalkeeper to give Strasbourg a two-goal cushion.

Orban's introduction turned the tide though. His first shot was tipped onto the crossbar, with Ainsley Maitland-Niles making no mistake as he fired the loose ball into the back of the net.

He then scored twice to flip the script, leaping to volley Lacazette's cross past Karl-Johan Johnsson from close range before glancing a header in at the near post.

Data Debrief: Lyon find their shooting boots

Lyon made a slow start to Ligue 1 last season, but Pierre Sage ensured they would not have to wait much longer for three points this time around.

After losing their first two games by an aggregate 5-0, failing to score from a total of 17 shots (two on target, while creating an expected goals of 2.09 across the two matches), they needed to hit the net on Friday.

And they did just that. Lyon had 20 shots, with an incredible 12 of those on target (3.07 xG) and showed character to come from behind, something that will please their head coach ahead of the international break.

Lyon reached their first Coupe de France final for 12 years after beating Ligue 2 strugglers Valenciennes 3-0.

They will play Paris St Germain or Rennes in the final following a victory inspired by captain Alexandre Lacazette at Groupama Stadium.

Lacazette struck twice during a six-minute spell shortly after half-time to subdue a team 28 places below Lyon in the French league pyramid, while Gift Orban added a third.

Valenciennes went into the semi-final clash – their first last-four appearance since 1970 – as rank outsiders.

They are 11 points adrift at the bottom of Ligue 2 and had failed to score a goal in four league games since knocking out quarter-final opponents Rouen.

But it was far from plain-sailing for Lyon, who saw their opponents have a goal disallowed just before the interval.

Valenciennes found themselves under early pressure, with goalkeeper Jean Louchet forced into an early save from Said Benrahma’s shot, before Duje Caleta-Car was off-target from close range.

Although the visitors slowly grew into the game, they again found themselves in defensive mode as Lyon launched another attack, but Ernest Nuamah was wide with a header and then a shot during the space of two minutes.

Valenciennes had been under sustained pressure, yet they had a goal disallowed seven minutes before half-time when Sirine Doucoure’s effort was ruled out following a VAR review that picked up a foul on Lyon’s Jake O’Brien during build-up play.

It was a wake-up call for Lyon, but they could no find way through by half-time as their frustration surfaced when Clinton Mata collected a booking.

But the deadlock was broken six minutes into the second period when a foul by Valenciennes’ Joffrey Cuffaut gave Lacazette a golden opportunity from the penalty spot, and he made no mistake.

Lacazette was booked for excessive celebrations, yet a sense of relief swept around the stadium as Valenciennes’ impressive resistance had finally been broken.

The former Arsenal striker struck again six minutes later when his close-range shot beat Louchet and Orban then added a third as the clock ticked down.