Lens 2-1 Paris FC: Florian Thauvin and Thorgan Hazard combine twice to turn it around
Luca Koleosho put Paris FC ahead right before half-time, but Florian Thauvin and Thorgan Hazard set up one goal apiece in the second half as Lens came from behind to win 2-1 at the Bollaert.
Paris FC went into the break ahead at the Bollaert, Luca Koleosho finishing a move in injury time at the end of the first half. It did not last. Florian Thauvin and Thorgan Hazard set up one goal apiece for each other in the second half, and Lens turned a losing position into a 2-1 win that keeps them in the Ligue 1 top half.
Koleosho strikes right before the break
Lassine Sinayoko supplied the pass for Koleosho's goal in the second minute of first-half stoppage time, sending Paris FC in front and into the dressing room with the lead. Lens needed a response, and they got two: Hazard set up Thauvin for the equaliser in the 63rd minute, and Thauvin returned the favour 20 minutes later, teeing up Hazard to make it 2-1 in the 83rd minute. Three cautions were shown either side of the hour for Paris FC's Moustapha Mbow and Pierre Lees-Melou in the first half, and for Lens' Florian Thauvin, Samson Baidoo and Michal Skoras in the second, but no player saw red.
- 45+2' — Luca Koleosho (Paris FC), assisted by Lassine Sinayoko
- 63' — Florian Thauvin (Lens), assisted by Thorgan Hazard
- 83' — Thorgan Hazard (Lens), assisted by Florian Thauvin
| Stat | Lens | Paris FC |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 55.9% | 44.1% |
| Shots on target | 3 | 1 |
| Pass accuracy | 478 (86.1%) | 371 (81.2%) |
| Corners | 6 | 1 |
| Fouls conceded | 17 | 17 |
| Yellow cards | 3 | 3 |
Line-ups
| Team | Starting XI |
|---|---|
| Lens (3-4-2-1) | Risser; Baidoo, Todibo, Aguilar; Haidara, Cuisance, Udol, Abdulhamid; Ivanovic, Sotoca; Thauvin |
| Paris FC (4-2-3-1) | Nkambadio; Coppola, Mbow, Otavio, Camara; Pagis, Lees-Melou; López, Sinayoko, Koleosho; Kebbal |
A third straight league win for Lens
Lens make it three Ligue 1 wins in a row — following a 2-1 win over Lyon and a 3-1 win at Troyes — and move to 13 points in 7th, back among the chasing pack after a run of midweek Champions League defeats to Sporting CP and Club Brugge either side of those two league wins. Paris FC arrived on the back of a 4-3 win over Rennes, though a 0-1 defeat at Lorient the match before that was a reminder they are not yet consistent on the road. They stay 6th on 14 points, still inside the Conference League play-off place, but with their recent momentum interrupted by a side they had the better of for 45 minutes.
What's next
Lens will look to push the winning run to four as they close in on the European places from 7th, while Paris FC need to find a response quickly to protect their spot in 6th with Lens and others now breathing down their neck.
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