2023-05-06 23:49:04
Neither a legend nor a mirage. Something extraordinary is happening in the Lens region this season. A magnificent chapter in the history of RC Lens that all witnesses will be able to tell their children. This Saturday evening again, Franck Haise’s players left their blood red hearts on their Bollaert lawn to get a little closer to the gold that a second place behind PSG and direct qualification for the Champions League would represent. After so many other teams, it was OM who broke on the earth wall of underground miners, led by their tireless captain Seko Fofana.
The best team in France at home against the best away, the shock promised. But as often when the stakes rise, Lens and OM first paralyzed the poster, the locals having trouble projecting themselves against the very effective pressing of the visitors. And as often when the stakes rise, an arbitration decision will not fail to make people talk. That of Clément Turpin to validate the goal of Alexis Sanchez (8th) then to change his mind at the insistence of his video referee, Jérôme Brisard, will be part of it. The referee seemed sure of himself at real speed. He finally changed his mind after seeing, in slow motion, the Chilean’s slight tripping on Kevin Danso at the start of the action.
Bollaert, formidable 12th man!
Enough to feed the current in the brains of Marseille, that of coach Igor Tudor in particular, calmed by a warning (37th). Tension, this Lens-Marseille did not lack it. Despite two scuffles, in particular due to the primary gesture of Facundo Medina who saw fit to send the ball into the faces of the Marseille bench (24th), everything remained correct on the ground. And the sporting pleasure presented itself over the minutes. First thanks to a huge strike from outside the area on the post of Seko Fofana (22nd). Then thanks to the Lensoise ball outings, found before the half-hour mark.
But as we said, it was with heart and courage that the Sang et Or delivered their 12th man, this incandescent Bollaert stadium, deafening and carrying crazy energy. Who better than Captain Fofana to trigger the eruption? After his warm-up for the 22nd, he did it again following a bad Marseille dismissal. Pau Lopez can’t do anything about it, masked by his defense. 1-0 (42nd) and OM find themselves groggy. Jordan Veretout, with a nice shot low to the ground (45th), tried to deceive an excellent Brice Samba. But like the stat of shots on target (3), the Marseillais missed their offensive score.
Heading for the Champions League… and maybe better?
The Artésiens did not do much better in this regard (3). But you have to believe that the little extra local soul creates differences. We know that Lens is one of those rare towns whose stadium has more seats (just over 38,200) than inhabitants (around 30,500). So, inevitably, the support also comes from outside to ensure a 24th sold-out window in a row. The Sang et Or jerseys can be seen on the motorway from Paris and as you approach the Lens slag heaps. The community goes beyond these borders and all of Europe will realize this in a few months.
With a second goal signed by the inevitable Loïs Openda (60th), 19 goals on the clock, RC Lens ended up finishing OM during a better controlled second act, marred by a careless error and the goal by Dimitri Payet (88th). Tonight, the Sang et Or are dolphins of PSG with two units ahead of their evening opponents and three behind the Parisians. What if the dream went beyond that of a place in the Champions League?
#LensMarseille #Lensois #hold #shock #dream