He hesitated for a moment, to be sure that this time he was really there. Then Elye Wahi took off his jersey and went to brandish his number 9 in everyone’s face at the corner of the Lepagnot and Delacourt stands. Bollaert, part of the public had whistled after his three misses against Clermont (1-0), did not need to be asked; already been in support when his name was announced before kick-off, he gave him a standing ovation.
After another failed face-to-face in Marseille (2-1), the young Lensois striker ended up responding on the pitch and welcomed his eighth goal of the season in Ligue 1 as a liberation (1-0, 57e). Mvogo was unable to do anything against his right shot into the area, on a ball inherited from good pressing from Nampalys Mendy to recover a ball at the feet of Tiémoué Bakayoko.
READ ALSO – Like Elye Wahi, they also received whistles at Bollaert
However, the former Montpellier’s lack of confidence had still been glaring until then. In particular, he almost opened the scoring (37e) launched in one touch by Angelo Fulgini but he had opened his foot too much. He had the merit of insisting.
Still struggling to finish
Lens was still messy afterwards and had to count on a series of saves from Brice Samba to stay in front (63e in front of Katseris, and above all a duel won against Bamba, 77e). But for the first time in eight games, he managed to score more than one goal and in the difficulty of his end of the season, this is not insignificant.
Once again a starter, in a hybrid position in the middle in place of Neil El Aynaoui, after two matches on the bench, David Pereira da Costa appeared in turn. The Portuguese international hopefuls concluded a counter blitz that he himself had launchedserved at ground level by Adrien Thomasson, who we had also not seen decisive for a while (2-0, 81e).
This victory, essential to lock in sixth place, against Lorient, now almost doomed, was however a long time in the making. Faced with a low, compact and courageous block, the Lensois did not have it easy. They dominated but weren’t exactly happy in the first half. If they multiplied situations, in particular by accelerating and passing in the axis in the last quarter of an hour, they still had great difficulty in the last movement. And only one of their eight shots on target in the first forty-five minutes!
We think, among others, of this face of Florian Sotoca at the reception of a center in Medina (25e), to this superb backheel from Wahi for Facundo Medina whose shot flew over (32e) or this recovery from Deiver Machado just before halftime.
RC Lens was fortunately more effective in the second half in attack as well as in defense, with a 14e clean sheet this season. “ We played a complete matchappreciated David Pereira da Costa at the microphone of Prime Video. It was a little difficult in the first half, Lorient held tight behind. We had chances that we didn’t capitalize on but we capitalized on them in the second half. »
Lens will be able to spend a quiet weekend, with a light heart before tackling an equally important trip to Rennes next Sunday. It was well worth a communion, which had become rare, with Bollaert.
