David double as Lille beats Strasbourg
RC Strasbourg Alsace 1-2 LOSC
THE GAME
It has been a tough start to the season for Lille, but they rebounded in this one to a rare high after ending a four-game winless streak in all competitions with a win over Stade de Reims on Wednesday. David opened the scoring in that 2-1 triumph, and he nearly did the same in the opening 10 minutes at the Meinau stadium, hanging on to Angel Gomes’ pass before shooting his attempt straight into the legs. by Matz Sels (8th). Mastiffs But in the middle of the half, Timothy Weah grabs his bite after Alexander Djiku spoils a long ball forward and square to his compatriot North American David, who transforms at close range (23 ‘). Weah looked injured after finishing second in an aerial challenge with Gerzino Nyamsi, but he missed the half, going 1-0 when Francois Letexier ended play.
Lille make sure
The second half lasted just over 10 minutes when the visitors freed themselves more. Djiki dropped Weah in the Strasbourg area and David intervened to send Sels the wrong way for his fourth goal of the Ligue 1 Uber Eats campaign (57th). David was then inches away from finishing his hat-trick, climbing the highest to meet a Reinildo cross and head narrowly (71 ‘). This extravagance was sanctioned a few minutes later by Ibrahima Sissoko who reduced the arrears, the great midfielder started again with a simple finish after the corner of captain Dimitri Liénard sailed without interruption to the far post (75th). Strasbourg was reduced to 10 after a dangerous tackle from Adrien Thomasson on Tiago Djalo (79 ‘) and LOSC was able to round off the victory smoothly.
THE PLAYER: Timothy Weah
David scored both Lille goals, but Weah made both possible thanks to his determined attitude and pace in and around the opponent’s area. Not yet as prolific as his father George – a French and even world greats – once was, tonight’s performance was certainly a step in the right direction.
STAT: 7
Lille are undefeated in their last seven meetings with Strasbourg in all competitions. The last time Racing was right about Mastiffs was back in October 2018, when Liénard and Youssouf Fofana scored in a 2-0 victory in the Coupe de la Ligue third round.