Lens pull off dramatic late comeback against Toulouse

From two goals down, RC Lens pulled off the most dramatic of late comebacks against a 10-man Toulouse FC side that, for an hour, looked set to frustrate Pierre Sage's men (3-2).

Toulouse: two goals up but one man down

Toulouse came into this game having lost their last two games in Ligue 1 McDonald's conceding seven goals in the process, but they were in dreamland thanks to their start at the Stade Bollaert. Cristian Casseres' long-range effort was timidly palmed into his own net by Robin Risser (6'), and just seven minutes later, their lead was doubled by Seny Koumbassa, the 18-year-old who netted his first professional goal from a corner (13').

Le TéFéCé's position was commanding, but it would be weakened just four minutes later when Yann Gboho saw red (17'). His tackle on Adrien Thomasson meant that Toulouse would have to play 75 minutes with 10-men. The dynamic was set. This was going to be a back-to-the-walls job for Carles Martinez Novell's side.

Toulouse held until just after the hour mark, but when Lens' pressure paid, there was a considerable momentum shift. Allan Saint-Maximin put the ball to the back post for Saud Abdulhamid, who headed past Guillaume Restes (61') and when the France youth international palmed Malang Sarr's long-range effort right into the path of Thomasson soon after, parity was restored (67').

Lens continued to push, aware that their title challenge in Ligue 1 McDonald's depended on it, and Thomasson almost doubled his tally and gave his side the lead. But his flicked header from a Saint-Maximin cross landed on the roof of the net (70'). Rested was stranded to the spot.

GANIOU COMPLETES LENS' INCREDIBLE COMEBACK! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/x0S71TtpWK
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) April 17, 2026

Having set up Lens' first, Saint-Maximin almost completed the comeback when he cut in onto his right foot and put a curled effort just inches wide of Restes' far post (84'). But Lens' persistence would ultimately pay. As we ticked into stoppage time, Toulouse conceded the cheapest of corners, and it was duly punished by Ismael Ganiou, whose sublime header nestled in the top corner (90+1').

42 shots on goal for Lens on the night were a symbol of their dominance, but it was only in the final seconds that they got the job done and kept their title challenge alive. Les Sang et Or are now just one point behind Ligue 1 McDonald's leaders PSG, although Luis Enrique's side, who face Olympique Lyonnais on Sunday, have two games in hand.

It is a huge result for Lens, who, for much of the night, looked like they would concede back-to-back defeats in Ligue 1 McDonald's this season. Beyond the points on the board, this is a result that provides a big psychological boost.

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