Recap: Lens Score Twice Late for Dramatic Win vs. Nantes

RC Lens pulled off a dramatic win over FC Nantes with two goals late in the second half to secure a 3-2 victory on Saturday night at Stade Bollaert-Delelis.

Lens and Nantes played a tightly contested first half with the home side generating six total shots while the visitors had four. Despite the shot totals for both sides, the two squads would find the back of the net via a penalty kick chance.

After a VAR review in the 19th minute, Lens were awarded a penalty kick shot, and veteran forward Przemysław Frankowski converted the chance to give Les Sang et Or a 1-0 lead.

The host squad's advantage wouldn't last long, though, as Nantes was also awarded a penalty kick, which Moses Simon converted in the 36th minute. Both teams went into halftime in a 1-1 deadlock as the two teams looked to find the go-ahead goal in the second half.

Nantes would break the deadlock midway through the second half courtesy of a goal from Nicolas Cozza in the 71st minute. VAR confirmed the goal, and the visitors now held a 2-1 lead, but they would stumble toward the end of the contest.

With a handful of minutes left, Lens broke the hearts of Nantes supports, scoring twice in a span of four minutes to snatch a victory. The first goal came from Hamzat Ojediran in the 86th minute to level the scoring and Adrien Thomasson scored the game-winning goal in the 90th minute as Lens pulled off a dramatic win.

After the match, Thomasson spoke to DAZN and shared the emotions of this thrilling win as the team looks to turn this into positive momentum once club football resumes after the FIFA international break.

"This victory is the strength of our group. It's the character of a team, of a club. We never gave up, even though it was difficult at one point. We could hear the boos coming from the stands. We had to stay focused. We know very well that anything can happen in a match.

"The equalizer was good for us, and we managed to score the third. It was instinctive. You always have to try to sense the opportunities. At that moment, it worked in my favor. This kind of victory will count at the end of the season. We were in a bit of a negative dynamic, and this will do us a world of good."

The Stat: Nantes' Habit of Dropping Points

The loss is a highlight of Nantes' 2024-25 season so far as Les Canaris are the team that have dropped the most points after leading in a match in Ligue 1 this season, tied with RC Strasbourg (12 points). It's a difficult manner to head into the international break, but Antoine Kombouaré will need to regroup his squad when they face Le Havre on November 24.

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