Lens left Le Mans with a point after a wild evening at the Stade Marie-Marvingt, recovering from two goals down to draw 2-2 in Ligue 1 on Sunday. Franjo Ivanovic’s second-half header completed the comeback, but the visitors could not find the late winner despite a barrage around the home penalty area.
Le Mans 2-2 Lens: Ivanovic rescues point after hosts’ counterattacking blow
Le Mans struck first on 32 minutes when Adil Bourabaa headed in from close range after a rapid break. The move had already produced a header from Louis Mafouta against the crossbar and a missed Jean Vercruysse effort before Bourabaa converted.
Lens had been pressing from the opening stages, with Florian Thauvin missing an early header and Jonathan Gradit later heading over from a Thauvin corner. The visitors also saw several Thauvin attempts blocked or saved as Le Mans defended their box.
The home side doubled the advantage in the 44th minute. Adil Bourabaa led another counterattack and supplied Lucas Calodat, who finished with his left foot from inside the area.
Lens immediately found a route back. Abdallah Sima headed into the top-left corner in first-half stoppage time, with VAR confirming the goal after a review.
Quick facts
- Competition: Ligue 1, Matchday 4
- Venue: Stade Marie-Marvingt, Le Mans
- Final score: Le Mans 2-2 Lens
- Le Mans scorers: Adil Bourabaa, 32; Lucas Calodat, 44
- Lens scorers: Abdallah Sima, 45+2; Franjo Ivanovic, 51
- Lens had a late penalty appeal rejected by VAR in the 78th minute.
Lens reshaped their side at the interval, bringing on Amadou Haidara, Ivanovic and Mezian Mesloub for Michaël Cuisance, Odsonne Édouard and Michal Skóras. Le Mans introduced Djibril Sidibé in place of Noa Boissé.
The changes paid off six minutes after the restart. Ruben Aguilar delivered from the right and Ivanovic met the cross with a header, directing the ball inside the right side of the net to level the match at 2-2.
Le Mans responded with a triple change on 65 minutes, sending on Habib Diallo, Daouda Traoré and Alexandre Lauray for Dame Gueye, Jean Vercruysse and Lucas Bretelle. Raúl Torrente then replaced Samuel Yohou in the 77th minute, while Lens introduced Jean-Clair Todibo and later Thorgan Hazard.
The hosts still carried a threat. Louis Mafouta had a header saved in the 72nd minute, while Sidibé headed narrowly over from a Lauray corner three minutes later.
Lens had the stronger finish. Hazard struck the crossbar from a free-kick on 80 minutes, and Mesloub sent a shot just over after Aguilar’s delivery. A penalty claim following Sidibé’s foul on Hazard was reviewed in the 78th minute, but VAR ruled that no penalty should be given.
Thauvin was repeatedly involved in the final push, seeing one shot saved and another blocked in the 88th minute. In stoppage time, Bulatovic headed wide from Thauvin’s corner as Lens came within inches of turning the recovery into a victory.
There were yellow cards for Le Mans pair Noa Boissé and Jean Vercruysse, as well as Lens players Cuisance, Bulatovic and Thauvin. The late chances did not change the score, leaving both sides with one point from an absorbing Matchday 4 contest.
SEO Title: Le Mans 2-2 Lens: Ivanovic header completes Ligue 1 comeback
SEO Description: Lens fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Le Mans in Ligue 1, with Abdallah Sima and Franjo Ivanovic scoring for the visitors.
