Elye Wahi got the only goal of the game as RC Lens beat RC Strasbourg Alsace 1-0 at the Stade de la Meinau on Friday night.
RC Strasbourg Alsace 0-1 RC Lens
THE MATCH
Strasbourg started the stronger team with Dilane Bakwa forcing a good early save from Brice Samba (9') before Chelsea loanee Angelo teed up Habib Diarra who, off-balance, fired off-target (12'). It was somewhat against the run of play, then, when Wahi made it 1-0 at the other end. The summer arrival from Montpellier Hérault SC, who spurned the advances of Chelsea, fooled Gerzino Nyamsi with a smart bit of control following Florian Sotoca's knockdown and fired low beyond Samba's opposite number Matz Sels from range (16'). The goal lifted Lens, and they could have pulled further clear before the half was out. Sels pulled off a fine stop to keep Kevin Danso's header out (22') before Sotoca fired wide after being picked out by Deiver Machado (28') and it was 1-0 at the break.
End to end
Nyamsi, having been culpable for Wahi's goal, nearly made amends on the hour when he met Bakwa's cross, but his header flew over (60'). Lens and Strasbourg then exchanged chances, Sotoca missing the target at one end (77') before Lebo Mothiba got crowded out when he had Kévin Gameiro in a much better position (77'). There was a late flurry of action with both teams going for it. Sels shut down Morgan Guilavogui from close range (80'), Sotoca let Strasbourg off the hook when he dithered following a Ruben Aguilar cross (85'), and Samba's subsequent save from a Lucas Perrin was as spectacular as it was important (92'). Former Strasbourg man Adrien Thomasson could have added gloss to the scoreline at the death but he missed the target (93') and it ended 1-0.
THE PLAYER: Elye Wahi
Wahi had an otherwise quiet game but his goal was beautifully taken and will be a welcome confidence boost for the France U21 striker, who was yet to score in four Ligue 1 Uber Eats outings before this one. The RB Leipzig-bound Loïs Openda left big goalscoring boots to fill, but Wahi hit 19 last season, and if he is at the top of his game, Lens always have a chance.
THE STAT: 17
There were 17 shots on goal all told on Friday, with Lens having nine to their opponents' eight. Possession was also shared 52.1 per cent to 47.9 per cent in les Sang et Or's favour. In short, they had to dig deep for their three points.
