Wire flash
SportsFriendly: RC Lens beat Crystal Palace 3-0, Edouard scores brace
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Source reporting is collected, normalized, translated or condensed automatically when needed.
- Automatically published source-backed update
In a 45-minute friendly match at the Como tournament, RC Lens defeated Crystal Palace 3-0, handing former Lens coach Pierre Sage a heavy defeat. Odsonne Édouard scored a brace, first with a sliding finish from a Florian Thauvin cross in the 4th minute, then with a right-footed volley in the 21st minute. Andrija Bulatovic added a third goal with a curling shot from the edge of the box in the 22nd minute. Lens showed strong defensive organization, with key interventions from Ismaëlo Ganiou and a save by Hervé Koffi. The match was a reunion for Sage, who had led Lens to the Coupe de France title in May. Lens will play another 45-minute match later that evening against Famalicão.
Source report
Just over two months after leading Lens to their first Coupe de France title on May 22 (3-1 against Nice), former Racing coach Pierre Sage returned to face his old club in the opening match of the Como friendly tournament. Now on the bench at Crystal Palace, Sage exchanged words with his successor Dino Toppmöller before the match and received warm greetings from his former squad. However, on the pitch, his ex-players showed no mercy, handing Palace a harsh 0-3 defeat in 45 minutes.
Édouard Brace and Bulatovic Stunner
After a 0-3 loss to third-division side Bromley on Saturday, the Eagles folded their wings again against an intense Lens side that impressed in build-up play.
- 4th minute: Captain Florian Thauvin, having swapped positions frequently with Thorgan Hazard, was launched down the left flank by a fine pass from Andrija Bulatovic. Thauvin delivered a perfect cross that Odsonne Édouard turned in with a sliding finish.
- Édouard nearly scored a second with a subtle backheel, but Abdallah Sima got his wires crossed.
- 21st minute: Édouard secured his brace with a fine right-footed volley from a cross by Saud Abdulhamid, who had been set up by Florian Thauvin after a magnificent build-up.
- 22nd minute: Montenegrin jewel Bulatovic added a third goal with a magnificent curling shot from the edge of the box, following a poorly cleared corner from Thauvin.
Defensive Solidity for Lens
With Matthieu Udol positioned on the left of the three-man defensive line in the absence of Samson Baidoo, and Abdallah Sima as a wing-back ahead of him, Lens' defense provided guarantees for Dino Toppmöller. Notable contributions included two sharp interventions by Ismaëlo Ganiou against Rio Cardines and Eddie Nketiah. Hervé Koffi also deflected a shot from Brennan Johnson (16th minute).
Racing will play another 45-minute match this Tuesday evening against Portuguese side Famalicão (10 p.m., to follow on L'Équipe live foot).
Source
Foot - actualités, mercato, info & vidéo en continuWestern
Part of this Story
Former Lens Coach Pierre Sage Loses 3-0 to Lens in Como Friendly