Yet dominating in many areas of play, RC Lens was trapped at home against Stade Brestois (0-1). Marco Bizot repelled the Lensois onslaught throughout the first hour of play, before Franck Honorat scored the winning goal.
Blood and Gold Steamroller
The first half had nothing to do with that experienced by the Lensois in the first leg, trailing three goals to zero after just over half an hour of play. It was the Sang et Or who took the game at their account from the first minutes. A big thrill will first go through Bollaert on the very distant attempt to Gael Kakuta, who saw his left volley fail a few centimeters from the Brest post (9′). Marco Bizot, the Dutch goalkeeper of the Bretons, will have to use one in the twentieth minute of play to repel the shot from Kalimuendo, very comfortable technically (20′). Michel Der Zakarian’s men will react to the Lensoise domination.
Martin Satriano, the Uruguayan rookie from Brest, is very close to taking over a good cross from Honorat, but is stopped at the very last moment by Jonathan Gradit (21′). The Breton left piston, Jere Uronen, forced Jean-Louis Leca a few minutes later to work on a neat left recovery (26′). Lens regains the ascendancy, multiplies the interesting situations but lacks accuracy in the last gesture, whether for the “madjer” of Kalimuendo, next (27 ‘), or on the imprecise strike of Kakuta, yet on his left foot (34′). A new attempt from Kakuta, from a tight angle, forced Bizot to divert for a corner at the end of the half (42′).
The Bizot show
Lens resumed their dominance after returning from the locker room, and got closer to Bizot’s goals. Jonathan Clauss, freshly elected player of the month for February, rolls up his free kick and forces the Brest goalkeeper to deflect for a corner. On this same corner kick, Seko Fofana is found at the far post, but cannot fit his header (51′). Bizot is put to contribution and holds the Breton hut. On a millimeter cross from Kalimuendo coming from the right, Florian Sotoca resumes at close range, but again stumbles on the Batavian goalkeeper (56′). Opportunities in spades that Racing does not materialize, unlike the Brestois.
Franck Honorat accelerates, gets rid of Doucouré and goes to challenge Leca. The right piston of the SB29 stings his balloon perfectly and comes, against the course of the game, to cool the atmosphere of Bollaert (0-1, 59′). The Lensois are stunned but resume their march forward, now led by the score. Crosses rain down on the Brest surface, but the locals are always ahead in the duels, either by a defender or by Bizot. Barely entered, Frankowski thought to equalize, but the ball had crossed the line before Jonathan Clauss could cross towards the Polish international (76′). Also coming into play, Ganago is served in depth, avoids the exit of Bizot which brings down the Cameroonian, no fault according to Mr. Hamel (79′). Stumbling against the very grouped Brest block at the end of the match, Racing will never manage to equalize. Brest won at Bollaert, ending a three-game unbeaten run by Franck Haise’s men.
Arthur LASSERON
RC LENS – BREST : 0-1 (0-0)
Twenty-seventh day of Ligue 1 Uber Eats
Saturday, March 5, 5 p.m.
Bollaert-Delelis Stadium, Lens. 36,305 spectators
Referee: Mr. Hamel
Goals: Honorat (59′) for Brest
Bookings: Medina (67′) for Lens; Belkebla (54′) for Brest
RC Lens : Lecce – Gradit, Danso, Medina (Ganago, 74 ′) – Clauss (Machado, 90 ′), Doucouré (Berg, 84 ′), Fofana, Haïdara (Frankowski, 74 ′) – Kakuta (Pereira Da Costa, 74 ′), Kalimuendo, Sotoca
Substitutes : Fariñez (g.), Machado, Wooh, Berg, Cahuzac, Pereira Da Costa, Frankowski, Ganago, Baldé
Coach: Franck Haise
Brest : Bizot – Duverne, Hérelle, Brassier – Honorat, Belkebla, Agoumé, Uronen (Faussurier, 90′) – Del Castillo (Lasne, 74′) – Le Douaron (Mounié, 75′), Satriano (Magnetti, 84′)
Substitutes : Larsonneur (g.), Bain, Faussurier, Magnetti, Lasne, Mbock, Belaïli, Cardona, Mounié
Coach: Michel Der Zakarian
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