RC Lens won against Saint-Etienne (2-3) in a match counting for the 28th day of Ligue 1. Florian Sotoca (20th), Arnaud Kalimuendo (25th) and David Da Costa (93rd) are the scorers of the on the side of the Sang et Or. It was Harold Moukoudi (40th) and Denis Bouanga (95th) who found their way to the net with the Stéphanois.
Ligue 1 – 28th Journe
 Saint Etienne |
2 – 31 – 2 |
Lens  |
| H. Moukoudi 40 ‘ D. Bouanga (P.) 95 ‘ |
20 ‘ F. Sotoca (P.) 24 ‘ A. Muinga 93 ‘ David Costa |
THE FACT OF THE MATCH
A fatal fault. While the kickoff has only been given for a little over a quarter of an hour, the Stéphanois have control of the ball and are not endangered by their evening opponents. Unfortunately, Lucas Gourna-Douath deflects a long ball with a headache and throws Kalimuendo which spins behind the defense. Harold Moukoudi catches up with him but comes to tackle him late and provoke a penalty. Florian Sotoca opens the scoring and creates a gap that will never be caught by the Greens.
THE GOALS
0-1 (20th): RC Lens opens the scoring! Kalimuendo is mowed down in the area by Moukoudi and gets a penalty. Florian Sotoca takes care of pulling it and places it slightly on the right side. Jessy Moulin remains a full time axis before shifting and touching the ball with his hand, without being able to prevent it from spinning to the back of the net.
0-2 (25th): The Lensois are taking a break! Fofana recovers a ball on the right side and perforates in the axis before sliding it in depth to Arnaud Kalimuendo. The 19-year-old striker resists Moukoudi and Cissé before crossing his right strike which is deflected by Moulin but still crosses the goal line.
1-2 (40th): Saint-Etienne comes back to the score! Adil Aouchiche lifts a corner from left to right and lands the leather on Moukoudi’s head. The Stéphanois defender comes to uncross the leather and leave Jean-Louis Leca on the spot.
1-3 (93rd): And three for Lens! The Lensois take off on a counter-attack and Michelin goes behind the back of the Stéphanois before shifting to his left David Da Costa who only has to push the ball into the net.
2-3 (95th): Saint-Etienne is back in the game! ASSE gets a penalty after a hand in the area of Medina. Bouanga hits him hard in the axis and comes to reduce the score.
THE MAN OF THE MATCH
Arnaud Kalimuendo, the talented youth. The 19-year-old striker shone this Wednesday evening on the lawn of the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium. The Lensois made the Saint Etienne defense dizzy, which was constantly late when he had the ball in his feet. Generous in the efforts, altruistic in the construction and realistic in the finish, the player loaned by Paris Saint-Germain flew over the debates. He accelerated Moukoudi and caused a penalty early in the match, before doubling the bet for RC Lens a few minutes later with a sublime cross strike. Big performance from Kalimuendo.
THE RESULTS
AS Saint-Etienne bowed and went on to a third game without a win. The Stéphanois (16th, 30 points) are getting dangerously close to the red zone and are only five points ahead of the jump-off place.
RC Lens went on to undefeated 8th game and entered the top 5. The Sang et Or (5th, 44 points) took advantage of FC Metz’s defeat against Angers to move ahead and take fifth place.