Lens can thank Openda: the Sang-et-Or win in Rennes and take 2nd place in L1
Thanks to Loïs Openda’s 15th achievement this season, RC Lens won in Rennes (1-0), now ahead of OM in 2nd place in the championship on goal difference. For Rennes, on the other hand, the podium escapes almost definitively.
The RC Lens did not miss the opportunity to join theOlympic Marseilleheld in check Friday evening by Montpellier (1-1). Victorious on the lawn of Rennes (1-0), the Sang-et-Or are now 2nd in Ligue 1 thanks to their best goal difference.
We cannot say that Loïs Apenda had a lot of balloons to put in their mouths during the first period. But of the 5 he hit, the Belgian found the skylight of Steve Mandandafrom a perfect header to the reception of a center deposited by Florian Sotoca from the right (31′). This achievement, the 15th of the season, converted the very good start to the Sang-et-Or match at Roazhon Park.
At the pre-match press conference, Bruno Genesio had strongly insisted on Lensoise’s ability to multiply high-intensity races to recover quickly, project oneself and create chances. His diagnosis was correct and his players took more than half an hour to read the opposing game.
From the 3rd minute, Sotoca had created the first alert on the Rennes cage, without framing. Openda had already provoked the exit of Mandanda to annihilate an opportunity (5′). The new international retiree had relaxed to deflect a whim from Facundo Medina upon receipt of a corner kickAngelo Fulgini (9′). Kevin Dancetwice, had come close to scoring but his header had fled the frame (12′ and 14′).
The goal of Openda was therefore the logical consequence of the artesian domination and it woke up the Rennais. Immediately, Arnaud Californication finally find the speed to enter the surface and center in the direction of Benjamin Bourigeaud whose shot bounced off the crossbar (32′). Just before the break Karl Toko-Ekambi, served by this same Bourigeaud, was narrowly missed as the equalizer tended to him (44 ‘). After curling the 2-0 after that Birger Meling in extremis deflected a new header at the far post of Openda (42′), Rennes had missed the boat.
A feeling that must also have felt Fofana School when he took the ball away from Fulgini who already saw himself celebrating the offering of Openda who had deposited Christopher Wooh on the right side (53′). After a triple change, Genesio approached the last half hour with a return to a 4-man defense. In this new system, with Lovro Majer, Baptiste Santamaria et Amine Gouiri to bring speed, Kalimuendo was checked by Brice Samba, impeccable on this face-to-face (70 ‘). The new number 3 of the Blues then diverted with a tap a free kick diverted by the wall of Bourigeaud (84 ‘). On the other hand, he could not do anything on the goal of Warmed Omari and for good reason: the Rennais clearly in an offside position (87 ‘).
Despite an interesting end to the match, the Bretons took too long and are almost eliminated from the race for the podium and are 10 points behind Lens, more than ever launched towards qualification for the Champions League… or even better?
