Lens claim first win of season

RC Lens 2-1 Toulouse FC

THE MATCH

Lens had been buoyed by their performance in holding Sevilla to a 1-1 draw in Spain in the UEFA Champions League in midweek and were hoping to build on that to claim a first victory of the campaign at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.

It looked like they might be in for a frustrating afternoon as Adrien Thomasson and Rubén Águilar both hit the bar in the first 20 minutes for the hosts. Toulouse then went ahead just after the half-hour mark, César Gelabert finishing off a nice move by clipping the ball over the home goalkeeper (33’).

However, Lens hauled themselves back level right on half-time as Wesley Saïd, facing his former side, fired in after the ball broke kindly for him in the box. They used that as a stepping stone to go on and snatch victory with six minutes left as substitute Guilavogui arrived in the area to fire past Toulouse ‘keeper Guillaume Restes.

The hosts scored again in the last minute when Elye Wahi put the ball in the net only for the celebrations to be cut short by an offside flag. Yet Lens saw the game out and finally have a first win of the season after seven games in all competitions.

THE PLAYER: Morgan Guilavogui

The Guinea international forward, signed in the close season from Paris FC, is developing a reputation as something of a super sub. His only goal in a Lens shirt before today came off the bench against Paris Saint-Germain last month. He also came on as a substitute against Sevilla in midweek and was unlucky not to score a late winner for his side.

THE STAT: 55

According to Opta statistics, Lens had gone 55 shots without scoring in Ligue 1 before Saïd’s strike here.

Elsewhere on Sunday afternoon, Stade Rennais FC failed to build on their midweek win in Europe as they drew 0-0 away to Montpellier Hérault SC, their fifth consecutive domestic draw.

Le Havre AC beat Clermont Foot 63 2-1 in Normandy, with Nabil Alioui giving them an early lead at the Stade Océane from a Josué Casimir centre. Casimir was the provider again as Le Havre doubled their advantage in the seventh minute, this time setting up Mohamed Bayo to score against his former club.

Cheick Oumar Konaté pulled one back for Clermont before the interval but Le Havre held on as Muhammed Cham hit the bar from a free-kick for the visitors after the restart.

>> ROUND 6: Fixtures/results