The Stade Bollaert offered an insane image at the final whistle… In addition to playing for the title with PSG this season (the European champions are one point ahead but one game in hand), RC Lens will extend its superb season with the final of the Coupe de France, on Friday May 22 at the Stade de France. The northern club, an unfortunate finalist three times (1948, 1975 and 1998), has never won the oldest French competition.
Supported by his audience, Pierre Sage and his teammates easily took over Toulouse FC (4-1) on Tuesday evening during the first semi-final. The winner of Strasbourg-Nice on Wednesday will be the opponent of the Sang et Or.
The Lensois took the advantage from the start of the match thanks to a penalty from Florian Thauvin (9th), after a foul on the 2018 world champion from Pape Demba Diop. The talent of winter recruit Allan Saint-Maximin also made the difference, the former Stéphanois scoring from 20 meters (18th).
If the Violets reignited the suspense through Santiago Hidalgo (21st) on a recovery error from Samson Baidoo, Matthieu Udol gave the locals some fresh air on an overflow from Saud Abdulhamid (35th).
The powerful Saudi right-back, already a scorer last weekend in Ligue 1, offered the 4-1 goal to Adrien Thomasson (74th), preparing the XXL pitch invasion of the public in blood and gold. Assailed by the crowd, Thauvin and his teammates will remember this qualification for the final. Lens continues on Friday evening against Stade Brestois, in Finistère.
