Olympique Lyon took a big step toward the Europa League quarterfinals with a commanding 3-1 away victory over FC Steaua București on Thursday night. The star of the night was Ghanaian winger Ernest Nuamah, whose electrifying performance on the flanks helped set the tone for the French side’s triumph.

From the first whistle, Nuamah was a constant threat, using his blistering pace and dribbling ability to unsettle the Romanian defense. His relentless attacking runs created space and opportunities for his teammates, making him one of the standout performers of the night.

Lyon broke the deadlock in the 30th minute when Argentine fullback Nicolás Tagliafico found the net with a well-taken finish. The hosts fought back and leveled the score in the 68th minute through Alexandru Băluță, briefly reigniting their hopes.

However, Lyon responded in style, with Malick Fofana coming off the bench to score twice late in the game, securing a crucial victory for the visitors. Nuamah, who played 68 minutes before making way for Fofana, earned an impressive match rating of 7.3—one of the highest among both teams.

With a two-goal cushion heading into the second leg, Lyon will be confident of sealing their place in the next round. As for Nuamah, his performance reinforced why he is regarded as one of Ghana’s brightest young talents in European football.