Facing a valiant team from Auxerre, RC Lens scored a tenth success in ten home games (1-0) this Saturday. The Sang et Or are temporarily back three points from Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
The joy of the Lensois after the goal of Frankowski (1-0, 59th)
RC Lens is moving forward. Three days after their Strasbourg draw (2-2), the Artsien club won against Auxerre (1-0) this Saturday during the 19th day of Ligue 1. A tenth victory in ten home games which was not so easy to win for the Paris Saint-Germain runner-up against 18th in the standings.
Openda’s Rat
From the start, the Lensois settled in the opposing half of the field. Franck Haise’s men, however, had difficulty finding the fault in a compact Auxerre block which closed the axis well to prevent breakthroughs towards its surface. Consequently, the Sang et Or offered themselves very few dangerous opportunities, apart from a header from Sotoca at the near post.
Over the minutes, the AJA players put their foot on the ball a little more and even jostled the locals in the game. But it was Lens who got the first goal opportunity. Alone at the back post, Openda placed a spade header on the post when it seemed easier to put it in the back! Despite the Lensoise pressure until the break, the Auxerre defense held firm not to concede another chance.
Auxerre and I. Tour crack…
When they returned from the locker room, the Lensois showed a more conquering face. A new attitude that allowed the Artiens to make the difference on a penalty obtained by Hadara – unbalanced by B. Tour – and scored by Frankowski (1-0, 59th). This game really turned in favor of the Sang et Or when I. Tour left his team ten by collecting a second booking for a foul on Sotoca. The defender on loan from OM will not have very good memories of his first start in L1…
Despite a timid reaction from Auxerre, the RCL mastered the end of the match with numerical superiority. Without performing very well, Lens won a precious success which allowed it to temporarily recover three points from the leader, Paris Saint-Germain (which travels to Rennes on Sunday), and to keep its first pursuer, Olympique de Marseille, at a distance.
Match score: 5/10
A first period rather poor in chances between a very defensive Auxerre team and a Lensoise formation in lack of solutions to force the lock. The show was better in the second half when the Sang et Or raised their level of play.
The goal :
– Frankowski takes his penalty from the right mid-height on the right of Costil. The Auxerre goalkeeper starts from the right side and touches the ball, without managing to push it back (1-0, 59th).
Players’ NOTES
Maxifoot has assigned a score (out of 10) comments on each player.
Man of the match: Przemyslaw Frankowski (7/10)
Scorer against PSG at the beginning of January, the Lensois left piston scored his second goal of the season, on a penalty, to free RC Lens in this meeting. A great reward for the Polish international who was untenable in his lane throughout the game. When his team lacked inspiration, his runs and crosses often brought danger. Replace the 90th+1 by Julien Le Cardinal (not not).
LENS :
Brice Samba (6): very little in danger, the Lensois goalkeeper had a relatively quiet start to the evening. Like his attitude which brings a lot of serenity to his defense.
Jonathan Gradit (6): rarely faulted by his opponents and author of three interceptions, the central defender has never been in difficulty in this part.
Kevin Danso (6): the central defender dominated his opponents by winning the majority of his duels. Precious also in the revival.
Facundo Medina (5.5): after a few clumsy interventions at the start of the game, the central defender got back on track to make a good copy. He took over his opponents, both physically and psychologically with his big character. Replace the 73rd by Deiver Machado (non not).
Przemyslaw Frankowski (7): read the comment above.
Salis Abdul Samed (5): back from suspension, the midfielder played a serious game. Always very fair in his transmissions, the former Clermontois did not hesitate to play long to cause shifts on the sides. Still very active in recovery.
Seko Fofana (5): after a shy first period, the RCL captain raised his level in the second half to impose his power in the midfield and make a difference on his ball drills at the foot.
Massadio Hadara (6.5): less visible than Frankowski in his left lane in the first period, the piston raised its level after the break. Much more his advantage in the second half, he gets the penalty which allows Lens to take the advantage.
Florian Sotoca (7): as usual, the Lensois striker was willing and very available to his partners. He was often in the good shots and provoked the expulsion of Isaak Tour by pushing him twice to make a mistake. His deliveries in the axis have often brought danger to the Auxerre area. Replace the 90th+1 by Adrien Thomasson (not not)who played his first minutes in his new colors.
Lois Openda (4): a difficult match for the Lensois center forward. Facing a very low and compact block, the Belgian did not have many opportunities to shine. Alone at the far post, he could do better in the first period on a header that hit the upright. Replace the 66th by Wesley Sad (no not).
David Pereira da Costa (4): the young attacking midfielder was not very prominent in this meeting. He made too few differences by passing or dribbling. Replace the 66th by Alexis Claude-Maurice (not not).
AUXERRE :
Benot Costil (5): the Auxerre goalkeeper was probably expecting a more difficult encounter, he finally had few stops to make. He starts from the right side and touches the ball on the penalty scored by Frankowski.
Akim Zedadka (6): the right side had a good duel with Hadara. Valiant and eye-catching, like his team, the defender will sleep well tonight.
Julian Jeanvier (6): the central defender had a serious game. Vigilant in his area, he read the game well to repel several dangerous crosses.
Isaak Tour (3): the central defender had a difficult first tenure in L1. After an interesting first period, the player on loan from OM left his match in the second and was sent off after receiving two warnings for fouls on Sotoca.
Rayan Raveleson (4): relocated to the left side position in the absence of Mensah, the midfielder suffered against the Sotoca-Frankowski duo.
Birama Tour (3): overwhelmed in midfield, the midfielder spent his time chasing after the ball. He causes the penalty, for a foul on Hadara in the area, which gives Lens the victory.
Youssouf M’Changama (6): very active in recovery, solid in duels and fairly fair in his choices, the midfielder delivered a good match. Replace the 77th by Hamza Sakhi (no not).
Gauthier Hein (4): a complicated game for the right midfielder. He spent his time running behind the ball and seemed to lack the lucidity to make the right gesture on the Auxerre counters. Replace the 77th by Lassine Sinayoko (not not).
Mathias Autret (5): the midfielder had a decent match. His activity in the midfield has long bothered the Lensois in construction. He was able to remain lucid to properly orient the game on the possession phases of his team. Replace the 69th by Jubal (no not).
Gaetan Perrin (5): very active and not clumsy with the ball, number 10 of AJA showed selflessness and nerve. But that wasn’t enough to make a difference on the scoreboard today. Replace the 83rd by Matthis Abline (not not).
M’Baye Niang (4.5): lonely up front, the center-forward had an opportunity to open the scoring at the start of the second period, but he completely missed his shot. However, he was invaluable in his back-to-goal play to allow his team to come back and on some inspired deviations. Replace the 77th by Nuno Da Costa (not not).
+ Find the results and the classification of Ligue 1 on Maxifoot
And for you, who were the best and worst players of the match? Comment in the “comments” box below!
LENS 1-0 AUXERRE (mid-time: 0-0) – FRANCE – Ligue 1 / 19th day
Stadium: Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens – Referee: Willy Delajod, France
Goals : P. Frankowski (59th, pen.) for LENS
Warnings :
LENS :
AUXERRE :
Openda finds the pole
Frankowski scores from a penalty (1-0, 59th)
The joy of the evening scorer
