Lens mount stunning three-goal comeback to snatch draw against Brest in Ligue 1

After securing their place in the Coupe de France final on Tuesday, Lens required a solid showing against Brest to maintain their aspirations for the Ligue 1 crown.

Abdallah Sima missed a promising early opportunity for the away side, and Pierre Sage’s team were quickly made to pay in the seventh minute when Daouda Guindo unleashed a brilliant 25-yard shot into the bottom corner for his debut goal this season

With a record of 14 wins from their last 15 league games against teams in the lower half of the standings this year, Lens sought an immediate reply, though Adrien Thomasson sent a shot wide from the edge of the area. 

Yet, it was Brest who extended their advantage before the half-hour, as Guindo switched to assisting duties, providing a precise cross for Lucas Tousart to nod in a seldom-seen header.

Sima squandered another clear chance for Les Sang et Or, heading wide from close range, and Brest capitalised on that let-off by netting a third right before the break.

Ludovic Ajorque found Éric Junior Dina Ebimbe near the penalty area, and the loanee from Eintracht Frankfurt slotted a composed finish past Robin Risser to hand the Pirates a strong lead.

Stunned by his team’s poor first-half effort, Sage introduced four substitutes early in the second half, bringing on Florian Thauvin among them.

The French player made an instant difference for the visitors, taking advantage of an error by Soumaïla Coulibaly to fire the ball home decisively.

Encouraged by that goal, Lens netted a second only four minutes after, with Saud Abdulhamid’s delivery volleyed in expertly by Sima to create an intriguing end to the match.

Les Sang et Or kept pushing forward in numbers to chase a improbable tie, but Grégoire Coudert remained resolute in Brest’s net to thwart Mamadou Sangaré, while Allan Saint-Maximin and Odsonne Édouard struck the frame of the goal frustratingly.

Even with those near misses, equality came in the fourth minute of added time as Saint-Maximin received a pass from Sangaré and curled a superb shot into the far corner to grab a thrilling point at the last.

The result leaves Sage’s squad just three points behind table-toppers PSG, despite having completed an extra fixture.