Lens offers the derby, and Monaco!
The last round of 16 of the Coupe de France played this Tuesday evening at Bollaert between Lens and Lille turned to the advantage of the locals, via penalties (2-2, 4 tab to 3). RCL will face ASM in the round of 16.
Last September 18, on this same lawn of Bollaert, the Blood and Gold had come to the end of Losc in an electric atmosphere (1-0), on behalf of the 6and lifting of Ligue 1. Since then the two clubs have observed diametrically different trajectories. The Lensois, gone with a bang in this championship, have not had success there since November 5 while the Lille are undefeated, all competitions combined, since the end of October.
This trend was first evident on the artesian lawn, while the two teams put the cover back on Tuesday evening as part of the 16and final of the Coupe de France. Despite a good start from the locals, and two clear chances obtained by Kalimuendo (4and) and Sotoca (13and), Onana was responsible for punishing the opposing defensive largesse by striking twice, in quick succession, like a fox from the surfaces (29and33and). This while Yazici had already knocked on wood for a free warning (9and).
Fofana, hero of the evening
After the break, however, Fofana set about rekindling the flame of the 5,000 Lensois spectators admitted – sanitary gauge obliges – scorer well served by a Saïd at the remarkable entrance (1-2, 67and). Better still, the same Fofana – after two posts struck by Yazici on one side (83and) and Baldé on the other (90and) – was able to snatch an unexpected equalizer at the end of the suspense and additional time, with a placed, clear and unstoppable strike (2-2, 90and+5).
Forced to go through the shots on goal to decide, the two teams remained back to back until the fifth and last shot of the initial salvo – Clauss having missed his attempt after Fonte. Sanches then failed for the ultimate cartridge from Lille, not Fofana… It was the RCL, in the end, who got the better of the eighth finalist in the Champions League to join the knockout stages of the Coupe de France. A round that the Lensois will play against monaco at the end of the month. Always at home.
The draw for the round of 16:
Versailles (N2) – Toulouse (L2)
Bergerac (N2) – Saint-Etienne (L1)
OM (L1) – Montpellier (L1)
PSG (L1) – Nice (L1)
Nancy (L2) – Amiens (L2)
Lens (L1) – Monaco (L1)
Reims (L1) – Bastia (L2)
Nantes (L1) – Brest (L1)
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