Recap: Zhegrova double powers Lille in madcap draw
Match Reports
After seeing eight goals in the opening match of the round, the second scarcely relented, with LOSC Lille and Racing Club de Strasbourg playing out a 3-3 draw at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Edon Zhegrova netted a brace in fifteen first-half minutes but the visitors battled back through their in-form trio of Emanuel Emegha, Andrey Santos and Sebastian Nanasi before Jonathan David converted a penalty five minutes from time.
A bright start...
Lille were trying to avoid losing a fifth straight match in all competitions, UEFA Champions League losses to Sporting Club de Portugal and Slavia Prague bookending losses to Paris Saint-Germain and AS Saint-Étienne in the league. To avoid being consigned to this, manager Bruno Génésio played a strong eleven, and handed André Gomes his first start in midfield. His opposite number, Liam Rosenior made few changes as well, save a first start for teenage defender Mamadou Sarr.
The match was open from the start, with good runs from Emegha and David, with both sides eager to get up and down the pitch in a chippy start. The breakthrough would come for the hosts, though, with Zhegrova scoring on fifteen minutes, sweeping home a clever ball from Angel Gomes. With the lead, LOSC continued to press, and eventually forced a corner on 27 minutes that saw Zhegrova find the net again, heading home as the visitors struggled to clear.
42' EMMMMMMMMMA!
3 goals on the season for our striker and it's level!#LOSCRCSA (2-2) pic.twitter.com/42hFi7QtYM— Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace English (@RCSA_English) September 21, 2024
...and a bold response
Undaunted by going two goals behind, Rosenior's side responded quickly, as Lucas Chevalier struggled to control a loose ball in the area and Santos scored for the third time this season with half an hour on the clock. Racing thought they had a penalty moments later, and would need a big save from Dorde Petrovic to keep out Rémy Cabella, but they would get an equalizer in short order as Emegha netted from close range just before the interval (42'), making it two-all at the break.
Emegha continued to be lively in the second half, showing good control on the counter but Chevalier saved from him at his near post, before Guéla Doué hit the woodwork. Santos then thought he had his own brace, heading in from a corner but the flag eventually went up. It was only a postponement of lead for Racing, though, as in-form Swedish midfielder Nanasi scored his third goal in as many games, finishing off a brilliant play on the break (66'). The two sides both had strong chances in the next twenty minutes, but the match would be settled five minutes from time as substitute Tiago Santos was brought down in the box. David converted from the spot, and the match ended three-all, perhaps leaving both sides ruing what could have been.
Lille are next in action on Saturday as they head to Le Havre, while Racing host in-form Marseille in Sunday's top match.
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