Gaël Kakuta's first-half strike was cancelled out by Abdoulaye Touré's second-half penalty as RC Lens and FC Nantes played out a 1-1 draw at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Wednesday evening.
RC Lens 1-1 FC Nantes
THE MATCH
Lens were pleased to welcome Kakuta and Ignatius Ganago back to their starting line-up, the attacking pair only featuring for the final half hour of Sunday's 1-0 win at Dijon FCO, but it was Nantes who carved out the first chance of the match, Imran Louza picking out Randal Kolo who forced a smart save from Jean-Louis Leca (3'). Kakuta soon got his foot on the ball, though, dictating the pace of the game from his number 10 position. After a shot from range and a corner into the box which both came to nothing, the Amiens SC-owned left-footer broke the deadlock midway through the half when he latched onto Simon Banza's pass and steered an early finish beyond Alban Lafont (23'). Lens ended the half having put six crossed into Nantes' box compared to their visitors' zero into theirs, the best of those falling to Cheick Doucouré with half-time approaching. The Mali midfielder fired high, though (43') and Florent Batta's whistle for the interval went with the score at 1-0.
Nantes fight back
Nantes manager Christian Gourcuff rang the changes at half-time with Kader Bamba, Pedro Chirivella and Fabio replacing Renaud Emond, Mehdi Abeid and Dennis Appiah (46'), and they mustered the first chance of the second half, just as they had in the first. This time Kolo got the better of Leca, but his shot hit the outside side-netting (51'). Banza attempted to knock a Kakuta corner on for his teammates at the other end soon after but the chance eluded them all (57'). Ganago and Kakuta were replaced by Florian Sotoca (65') and Tony Mauricio (66') as Franck Haise looked to close out the victory with fresh legs - no doubt with one eye on the clash with Angers SCO on Sunday - but the move rather invited trouble and Nantes took full advantage late on. Kolo earned a penalty which his captain stepped up to take, and although Leca saved the first attempt, Batta ordered a retake which Touré converted (81') and it ended 1-1
THE PLAYER: Randal Kolo
Kolo may not have got on the scoreboard on Wednesday but it would be difficult to imagine Nantes getting a share of the points here without the France under-21 striker on the pitch. Kolo chased down every ball and if he can add a greater cutting edge to his game, figures to keep Kalifa Coulibaly out of the starting line-up for the longer term.
THE STAT: 5
Kakuta was unlucky to find himself on the losing side here. Once lauded as one of the most promising teenaged players on the planet, the former Chelsea youngster has taken a circuitous route to something approaching the top of game, but is now enjoying his best ever football at the club his journey began. The 29-year-old is up to five goals for Haise's side this term. One more would match his best ever return in the French top flight, with the 2020/21 campaign just 11 rounds in.