Lens closer to CL with Reims triumph

LENS: RC Lens made another step towards qualification for next season’s Champions League with a 2-1 comeback home victory in Ligue 1 against Stade de Reims on Friday despite being reduced to 10 men early on.

In front of a packed house, Lens also closed to within three points of Paris St Germain in the title race.

Seko Fofana struck the winner in the second half after Przemyslaw Frankowski cancelled out Folarin Balogun’s opener with a penalty following the exclusion of Kevin Danso.

The result put second-placed Lens on 75 points with three games left, five ahead of third-placed Olympique de Marseille. The top two teams qualify for the group phase of the Champions League while the third-placed side will play in the third qualifying round.

“What’s happening this season is magical. We knew we’d have chances even when were down to 10 men,” said Lens midfielder Florian Sotoca.

Reims went ahead on 23 minutes after being awarded a penalty when Danso was shown a straight red card for pushing Marshall Munetsi in the box. Balogun coolly slotted the spot kick past Brice Samba to give his team an early lead.

Lens were however awarded a penalty five minutes before the break when Adrien Thomasson was fouled in the area by Emmanuel Agbadou and Polish midfielder Frankowski. who has not missed a penalty all season, made no mistake to level the tie.

Against the odds, Fofana gave the hosts the advantage 10 minutes into the second half, beating two defenders with a mazy run before scoring with a superb low shot from just inside the box after being set up by Deiver Machado.