Jonathan David doubled his season tally as champions LOSC made it back-to-back wins with a 2-1 victory over RC Strasbourg Alsace at the Stade de la Meinau.
RC Strasbourg Alsace 1-2 LOSC
THE MATCH
It has been a difficult start to the season for Lille, but they bounced into this one on a rare high having ended a run of four games without a win in all competitions with victory over Stade de Reims on Wednesday. David got the opener in that 2-1 triumph, and he nearly did the same inside the opening 10 minutes at the Stade de le Meinau, latching onto Angel Gomes' pass before firing his attempt straight into Matz Sels' legs (8'). Les Dogues found their bite midway through the half, though, Timothy Weah stealing in after Alexander Djiku had made a mess of a long ball forward and squaring the ball to his fellow North American David, who converted from close range (23'). Weah looked hurt after coming off second-best in an aerial challenge with Gerzino Nyamsi, but he saw out the half, with the scores at 1-0 when François Letexier brought play to a close.
Lille make sure
The second half was little more than 10 minutes old when the visitors pulled further clear. Djiki brought Weah down in the Strasbourg area and David stepped up to send Sels the wrong way for his fourth goal of the Ligue 1 Uber Eats campaign (57'). David was then inches away from completing his hat-trick, rising highest to meet a Reinildo cross and heading narrowly wide (71'). That profligacy was punished minutes later when Ibrahima Sissoko reduced the arrears, the big midfielder left with a simple finish after captain Dimitri Liénard's corner sailed uninterrupted to the back post (75'). Strasbourg were reduced to 10 men after Adrien Thomasson's dangerous tackle on Tiago Djalo (79') and LOSC were able to close out the win with little fuss.
THE PLAYER: Timothy Weah
David got both Lille goals, but Weah made both possible with his determined attitude and turn of pace in and around the opponents' area. Not yet as prolific as his father George - a great of the French and indeed world game - once was, tonight's performance was certainly a step in the right direction.
THE STAT: 7
Lille are unbeaten in their last seven meetings with Strasbourg in all competitions. The last time le Racing got the better of les Dogues was back in October 2018, when Liénard and Youssouf Fofana scored in a 2-0 win in the third round of the Coupe de la Ligue.
