Ligue 1 Uber Eats
·24 October 2021
Ligue 1 Uber Eats
·24 October 2021
THE MATCH
Said, brought into the Lens side by Franck Haise along with Facundo Medina, gave Lens the lead (15'). Arnaud Kalimuendo did well to retain possession before playing in Saïd, whose left-footed shot beat Alexandre Oukidja despite the visiting goalkeeper getting something on the ball.
Jean-Louis Leca made a double save (22') from Thomas Delaine and Dylan Bronn to keep Lens in front but the goalkeeper's heroics only delayed the Metz equaliser. Leca collided with Jonathan Gradit as he punched away a Fraid Boulaya free-kick and Nicolas De Préville (33') scored from outside the box.
SaÏd (37') ensured that it didn't stay level for long. Cheick Doucouré couldn't connect cleanly with Florian Sotoca's cut-back but the scuffed attempt found Saïd, who finished from close range. De Préville, who'd earlier scored his second goal for his new club, hit the post with an angled shot (57').
Lens made the scoreline flattering in the final ten minutes. Substitute Ignatius Ganago (83') netted after fine service from Ducouré and then - after the injured Oukidja had been replaced by Marc-Aurèle Caillard - Przemyslaw Frankowski (90') scored left-footed from a lovely Jonathan Clauss cross.
THE PLAYER: Wesley Saïd
Brought into the starting eleven, Saïd's only previous goal for Lens was in the 3-2 win at Marseille in September. Saïd, formerly of Toulouse, justified Haise's faith with his two first-half goals and did much to win the game before being replaced by Gaël Kakuta on 62 minutes.
THE STAT: 16
Metz have conceded in each of their last 16 Ligue 1 games, the longest run in the division.
Elsewhere, Rennes scored their third consecutive win (1-0) as a Nayef Aguerd goal was enough for them to spoil Strasbourg coach Julien Stéphan's return to Roazhon Park. Troyes came from behind to win 2-1 at Reoms and Lorient drew 1-1 with Bordeaux.