Lens sinks Clermont and pulls its head out of the water – Ligue 1 – D30 – Lens-Clermont (1-0)

Lens 1-0 Clermont

Goal: Sotoca (3^eSP) for the Artesians

A penalty that recalls the speed of Loïs Openda.

Comfortable at Bollaert-Dellelis, the Lensois defeated Clermont Foot by winning by the narrowest of margins (1-0). This allows Franck Haise’s men to catch up with the European wagon by returning to a small point in Nice, 5^are. In Auvergne, the prospects of remaining a little further away for the red lantern from Clermont, which remains four points behind the barrier place.

From the 29^e second of play, Florian Sotoca put the Sang et Or on the right track: surprised by the commitment of Neil El Aynaoui, Matsima mowed down the Moroccan and offered a penalty to the Sang et Or (1^time1-0). Little worried in the first period by the moribund Auvergnats, the vice-champions of France could even have worsened the score with a high recovery from Fulgini (21^e) and on a post touched by this devil from Sotoca (37^e).

Racing then returned from the locker room with the same intentions, since Wahi was very close to slamming the second following a bad pass from Gastien (46^e). Same thing at 65^ethen at 71^e : well served by Sotoca then Fulgini, the 35 million euro striker was unable to get past Mory Diaw. The lack of realism of the Artésiens could have been punished, if Grejohn Kyei had not missed the goal left empty by a catastrophic exit from Samba (76^e).

It makes you wonder where last year’s Clermont went.