Recap: 10-man Lens take vital step towards Conference League against Panathinaikos
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Will Still gets a first win on the European stage, as Lens hang on with 10-men to take a valuable lead against Greek side Panathinaikos into the second leg in the UEFA Conference League play-offs next week.
Lens side raced into an early lead after Przemysław Frankowski's overlapping run was found with a ball via Florian Sotoca, and the Polish international tucked a low finish into the right-hand corner (4'). The wing-back was involved once again only minutes later as he provided an inch-perfect driven cross for Wesley Saïd, but the striker's header was just off target. The pressure wouldn't stop there for the Sang & Or, as Still's side were pushed by a rambunctious atmosphere at Stade Bollaert.
Bar for a worrying moment when Kevin Danso gave the ball away to Ioannidis, Lens seemed in control in the first half. Yet a red card given to defender Facundo Medina following a VAR review would change up the circumstances for Still's men. Brice Samba had to be quick to parry away from a Greek attack only seconds later, as Pereira Da Costa had to be hauled off for Uzbeck defender Abdukodir Khusanov.
Yet, the Sang & Or had the resilience to strike again. This time Deiver Machado would drive down some space down the left side and play a simple ball to Thomasson, and the Frenchman provided a dangerous cross for Wesley Saïd to connect well. Saved at the first attempt, Saïd needed no invitation to poke home into an open net to put Les Artois two goals up against the Greek side just before halftime.
Early in the second half, however, Panathinaikos would halve their deficit via a moment of individual brilliance from captain Ioannidis - who managed to skip past five Lens players before slotting past Brice Samba (53'). There was a penalty scare for the hosts in the final minutes of the game which was waved away by the referee, much to the relief of those passionate Lens fans who see their team take a vital lead to Greece next week to qualify for another season of European football after featuring in last season's Champions League.
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