Lens overthrow Slavia Prague in added time for their entry into the Champions League

Crazy start for the vice-champion of France. This Thursday, on the occasion of the first day of the Champions League, RC Lens snatched victory on the pitch of Slavia Prague (3-2). Yet trailing in the 89th minute, Florian Thauvin and his team overthrew their evening opponents in added time thanks to two goals in quick succession. A breathtaking scenario.

Because, even if the two teams returned to the locker room with a goalless draw, the Sang et Or could consider themselves lucky to still be level with the Czechs, as they appeared tense and apathetic in their first act. But the last 45 minutes, and especially the last quarter of an hour, offered a mind-blowing outcome to this game. As soon as the restart, striker Sturm opened the scoring with a clear shot from the left (51st), a few seconds after the expulsion of his teammate, the young Konecny, who had entered the game only a few moments earlier.

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Trailing and unable to react, Racing saw its coach Dino Toppmöller make a decisive triple change shortly after the hour mark: then in difficulty, Sagnan, Ivanovic and Skoras gave way to Mesloub, Aguilar and Édouard. Substitutions which completely changed the face of this meeting, which then turned to the advantage of Lensois. Barely 10 minutes later, Édouard and Aguilar, precisely, reduced the score of their partner Sima (73rd). Then comes an undivided northern domination, where the Artesians corner the Praguers in their 25 meters until the very last minutes.

Thauvin then made a series of attempts, in vain, before seeing Sturm score the double following a mix-up and a missed exit from his goalkeeper Risser (88th). But, with unfailing resilience, the vice champions of France once again returned to the game through their captain, this time ideally placed to deceive the Czech goalkeeper with a header (90th+1), on a magnificent offering from Mesloub, before Aguilar completed this crazy evening with a tense shot from the right for victory on the RCL gong (90th+3).