Jean Canesse, Media365, published on Saturday November 9, 2024 at 9:25 p.m.
Led by Nantes five minutes from the end of regulation time, Lens was able to get the victory in added time (3-2) and regain color in the standings.
“We have to get it into our heads that today we have to change the software. (…) We play it safe. » Antoine Kombouaré announced the color during the traditional pre-match press conference, but that was not enough. We do not know if the locker room has taken the measure of this new context, as the Nantes coach called for, but the latter had, in any case, decided to change the system for the trip to Lens on Saturday evening. Coco and Thomas sent to the bench, Kadewere remained in Nantes, the former PSG technician had decided to move to five in defense with the returns of Amian and Duverne. A choice which did not really bear fruit in Félix-Bollaert's lair, even if the scenario of the meeting was certainly “cruel” for the diligent Canaries. The latter certainly conceded the opener to the Artésiens, a penalty offered by Douglas Augusto and transformed by Frankowski (1-0, 21st), but they were able to react before the break with a very similar sequence. Faulting on Cozza in his area, Medina allowed Simon to equalize ten minutes before the break (1-1, 36th) during a rather indecisive encounter.
Pallois, hero then executioner
The Yellow and Green, who went seven matches without winning in Ligue 1, even managed to take the lead after the locker room, the errors of Danso and the good service of Simon benefiting the very offensive Cozza, scorer from the penalty spot (1-2, 73rd). At that moment, it was not really a hold-up, but Nantes could count itself lucky. A short-lived happiness for the Kombouaré collective. By dint of retreating, the latter first saw Sotoca miss the equalizing ball (82nd), unlike the incoming Ojediran, left alone in the area (2-2, 86th). And it was finally Pallois, who had just prevented a 3-2 ball with a saving defensive gesture (89th), who buried his team. With a poorly measured delivery, the Nantes defender lobbed his goalkeeper and Thomasson avoided an own goal. by scoring in the empty goal (3-2, 90th). While he did not know how to react, at the end of the match which saw Kombouaré take out a Thomas (90th +2) that he had barely brought in (80th), the FCN remains in great danger in bottom of the ranking. The Canaries remain outside the red zone for the moment but they could plunge there depending on the results of Saint-Etienne, Angers or Le Havre this weekend. Lens, for its part, returns to success and moves to fifth, one point ahead of Nice (6th) and one behind Lille (4th), two clubs which face each other on Sunday at 3 p.m.
