Advertisement
Racing Club de Lens won against Stade Brestois this Sunday evening to secure their ticket to the knockout stages of the Coupe de France (3-1).
Lens is such an attractive team that it can afford the luxury of varying the pleasures now. In Ligue 1, the formation of Franck Haise can no longer hide. Because the photograph of the classification does not lie, with this place of dolphin behind the great Paris Saint-Germain, which it even managed to bring down at the start of the year (3-1). And because his exciting game conquered all observers. If the Sang et Or make rain and shine in the league, there was no question of putting the Coupe de France in the background. The doyenne of competitions has far too much charm to be overlooked.
Lens did not shake
With a ten out of ten at Bollaert this season at the championship level, Lens does not have much to prove at home. But this Sunday, the artesian club had to avoid the trap set by a defensively stabilized Brest team since the arrival of Eric Roy at the helm.. This trip of the Lensois to Finistère also marked the great reunion between Roy and Haise, two men who forged a great bond during the passage of the former Niçois in the North.
And in this balance of power, it was the Lensois who took the advantage quite quickly. There was no observation round. From the outset, Saïd unblocked the situation by deflecting a strike from Le Cardinal with a subtle backheel (0-1, 6th). Stung to the quick, the people of Brest revolted under the impetus of their offensive forces. After an attempt by Le Douaron which crashed on the post (11th), Slimani, on receiving a service from Honorat, put the two teams equal (1-1, 19th).
But as often, Lens did not even have time to doubt. When the ship rocks a little in the game, the alternative lies in set pieces. Well served by Claude-Maurice on an eccentric free kick, Medina restored the advantage to the Sang et Or with a nice helmet shot (1-2, 32nd). Scorer, the same Medina then put on his costume as a passer by distilling in turn a precise center for Thomasson, who found the net for the first time with his new team (1-3, 38th).
The case was settled at the break. Lens could have made the bill even bigger during a well-managed second act. Despite fairly clear situations around the hour mark, like the excellent Thomasson (61st), the score has not changed. Lens continues on its way. Mission accomplished.
