RC Lens booked a place in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France after defeating Olympique Lyonnais 5–4 on penalties following a dramatic 2–2 draw at the Groupama Stadium.
According to Get French Football News, Lyon manager Pierre Sage returned to his former home ground for the quarter-final clash, with the winners set to face Toulouse FC in the semi-finals.
Lens made the brighter start and controlled the early tempo, with Adrien Thomasson and Mamadou Sangaré dictating play in midfield against Lyon’s diamond formation.
Lyon boss Paulo Fonseca was meanwhile unable to call on several players, including Malick Fofana, Pavel Šulc, Afonso Moreira and Ernest Nuamah.
The breakthrough arrived when Florian Thauvin reacted quickest after goalkeeper Rémy Descamps failed to properly hold Saud Abdulhamid’s long-range effort.
Lens remained dangerous on the counter, with Descamps later denying Odsonne Édouard before Abdallah Sima doubled the visitors’ lead, firing a superb strike into the top corner from Thauvin’s assist. Sima had been drafted into the starting lineup after Wesley Saïd suffered an injury during the warm-up.
Lyon struggled to convert their chances until Roman Yaremchuk first struck the crossbar and then headed home a brilliant delivery from Rémi Himbert to pull one back.
As the game progressed, Lens began to tire and Lyon pushed forward in search of an equaliser. Deep into stoppage time, goalkeeper Robin Risser rushed out to challenge for a loose ball but was beaten by Corentin Tolisso, who squared for Himbert to calmly finish into an empty net and send the contest to penalties.
In the shootout, Lens held their composure by converting all their spot-kicks, while Risser produced the decisive save to deny Moussa Niakhaté.
The victory keeps Lens’ hopes alive of lifting their first-ever Coupe de France trophy.
