Frankowski scores wonder-strike as Lens see off Saint-Étienne (0-2)
Match Reports
After five straight draws in Ligue 1, Will Still's Lens side finally got back to winning ways against Saint-Étienne
RC Lens got back to winning ways as a wonderful long range strike from Przemysław Frankowski and a late strike from Rémy Labeau Lascary was enough to secure Will Still's first win in five games following five straight draws.
Going into the clash on a run of five draws in a row, Lens boss Will Still named defender Kevin Danso in the starting XI for the first time of the season after the Austrian international failed his transfer to AS Roma in the summer due to the detection of a cardiac problem. Meanwhile, ASSE were able to get over their heavy defeat to OGC Nice (8-0) with a draw to FC Nantes (2-2) and then a convincing victory at AJ Auxerre (3-0).
It would be an eventful start as both sides squandered early opportunities to open the scoring at a packed Stade Geoffroy Guichard. Referee Romain Lissorgue would point to the spot and award a penalty for the away side, as Abdelhamied fouled Nzola inside the box - yet after a VAR consultation, it would be ruled out for offside. In the other box, Adrien Thomasson handled the ball after a strike from Ibrahima Sissoko, but the referee refused to give a penalty despite protests from the away side.
Lens dominant in second period
It would be the Sang & Or who opened the scoring only shortly after. Following a badly cleared corner out of Sainté's box, Frankowski connected perfectly from around 30-yards out and rocketed a stunning effort past Larsonneur (20'). Les Verts tried to react quickly to the stunner, as Davatshialli and Amougou's efforts went close just before the half-time whistle. There would be one last twist in the first half however, as Larsonneur had to be on hand to deny a superb free-kick hit by Khusnov with an impressive save.
Lens came out combative in the second period, and completely dominated the ball, as Les Verts struggled to give Brice Samba anything to worry about between the sticks for the visitors from northern France. Labeau Lascary would then double the lead for the Sang & Or, profiting off a mistake from Tata to then run the ball past Larsonneur and then finish into an open net (78'). It was a deserved amount of breathing space for Will Still's side, as Lens would go on to put an end to their run of five straight draws in Ligue 1.
THE STAT - 14
Will Still has taken 14 points from his first eight matches in Ligue 1 - which is the same amount as previous manager and current OGC Nice boss Franck Haise at the same stage of the season in the top flight.
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