Still in poor form, Lens had to fight until the penalty shootout to get rid of a Lorient team still under construction after its turbulent transfer window (1-1, 4 pens to 2), Thursday in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France. France. The Lensois, who had won 5-2 in their last match against the Merlus at the end of August in the league, took control thanks to Angelo Fulgini (21st) and largely dominated, but let themselves be taken back on a direct free kick from ‘Enzo The Fairy (84th).
On penalties, an error by the same Le Fée and a save by Jean-Louis Leca allowed Franck Haise’s men to make an appointment for a quarter-final in Nantes. Previously, they are expected Sunday in Lyon, a team also narrowly passed on penalties on Wednesday against Lille, to try to resume their march forward in the league, where they remain on three matches without a win.
Inlet pressure
Despite the absences, between injured or spared players, Lens put the pressure on entry, regularly showing itself to be dangerous and preventing almost any Lorient ball from coming back in the first quarter of an hour.
And while Régis Le Bris’ men finally started to tickle the Lensoise surface, Ismaël Boura surprised Vito Mannone with a powerful center-shot. With a tap, the goalkeeper pushed the ball back towards Fulgini, who concluded from the right in the empty goal (0-1, 21st).
It is a first goal in the Lensois jersey, and the first of the season, for the midfielder trained in Valenciennes and arrived at the end of January from Mainz (1st German division). Adrien Thomasson, another winter rookie, had the break point just after but his shot went wide (23rd).
The Fairy equalizes
Opposite, Lorient took advantage of a handful of bad Lensoise raises to create a few chances at the end of the first period then tried to increase the pressure on the return from the locker room, before having the ball confiscated again. But while Lens had railed against several questionable arbitration decisions in the league on Sunday in Brest, this time Lorient could have obtained a penalty for an unwhistled charge from Fulgini on Darline Yongwa in the area (42nd).
And the Lensois lowered their guard again, as when Seko Fofana, entered on the hour mark, tried a roulette just in front of his surface. Jean-Victor Makengo grabbed the ball but his immediate shot grazed the frame (78th). Le Fée’s free kick, after a quick attack stopped by a foul from Jean Onana at the entrance to the area, on the other hand left no chance for Jean-Louis Leca (1-1, 84th). After a somewhat crazy end to the match, Le Fée, captain for a night, came first for the penalty shootout, but hit the crossbar, leaving the Lensois to take an advantage that they didn’t. didn’t give up this time.