Under the lights at Stade Félix Bollaert-Delelis, Lens turned a late deficit into a 2-1 Ligue 1 victory over Paris FC, with Florian Thauvin and Thorgan Hazard delivering the decisive second-half response.
Key takeaways
- Lens came from behind after Luca Koleosho put Paris FC ahead in first-half stoppage time.
- Florian Thauvin equalised in the 63rd minute with a left-footed strike from outside the box.
- Thorgan Hazard scored the winner on 83 minutes after Thauvin supplied the cross.
- VAR overturned a possible Lens penalty in the first half and later confirmed that Jean-Clair Todibo would not be sent off.
- Paris FC lost Rudy Matondo to injury shortly before Lens scored their winning goal.
Lens find their way back
The Matchday 8 meeting on Saturday 24 October began with Lens pressing for control, but Paris FC carried an early threat. Ilan Kebbal had a shot blocked in the third minute after Adama Camara’s pass, while the home side soon began to create openings of their own.
Franjo Ivanovic fired over from Florian Sotoca’s cross, and Lens then saw two efforts go close in the 26th minute. Michaël Cuisance struck high from distance before Sotoca headed Saud Abdulhamid’s delivery narrowly wide.
Lens briefly believed they might have a penalty after Lassine Sinayoko fouled Amadou Haidara on the left, but the video review ruled against the spot-kick. Thauvin later sent a long-range free-kick just wide, while Sotoca missed again from inside the area.
Paris FC absorbed that pressure and struck on the break in added time before the interval. Sinayoko released Luca Koleosho, who finished low with his right foot into the left corner to give the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 47th minute of the first half.
Lens resumed with urgency, although Paris FC had chances to extend their advantage. Kebbal lifted a close-range counter-attacking effort over the bar in the 53rd minute, and Pierre Lees-Melou dragged a right-footed attempt just past the left post two minutes later.
The hosts made a double change on 61 minutes, sending on Hazard for Ivanovic and Kyllian Antonio for Todibo. A VAR check soon confirmed that Todibo would not receive a red card, and Lens quickly found the equaliser.
Hazard set up Thauvin in the 63rd minute, and the France international bent a left-footed shot from outside the area into the right side of the net. The goal restored the noise inside Bollaert-Delelis and shifted the momentum firmly towards Lens.
Thauvin and Hazard complete the turnaround
Lens continued to push as the second half wore on. Haidara was forced off after receiving treatment, with Yacine Titraoui replacing him in the 71st minute. Paris FC responded by introducing Moses Simon and Rudy Matondo, but Matondo’s evening ended early when injury forced him off after 80 minutes. Thibault De Smet came on in his place.
The winner arrived three minutes later. Thauvin delivered from the right, and Hazard met the ball centrally before steering a left-footed finish into the right side of the goal. The combination between the two experienced attackers transformed the match.
Lens used their final changes to bring on Michal Skóras and Junior Kadile for Abdulhamid and Sotoca, then managed the closing stages through eight minutes of added time. Kadile forced Obed Nkambadio into a low save in the 96th minute after another pass from Thauvin.
The match grew increasingly physical near the finish. Samson Baidoo, Thauvin and Skóras were booked for Lens, while Paris FC’s Moustapha Mbow, Lees-Melou and Otávio also received yellow cards. Otávio’s caution came in stoppage time after another foul on Thauvin.
Paris FC could not fashion a final equaliser, leaving Lens with a hard-earned 2-1 result after a night that swung on their second-half attacking response.
