A European night that went directly into the legend of RC Lens. Thursday evening, in the overheated atmosphere of the Fortuna Arena, the Artesian club achieved a masterful turnaround against Slavia Prague (2-3) for its comeback in the Champions League. A success achieved through suspense, sweat and faith.
However, in the 88th minute, the Czech trap seemed definitively closed. Trailing 2-1, the Sang et Or seemed destined for a new disappointment, with serious consequences for a team in search of confidence after a sluggish start to the season in Ligue 1. This was without counting on this extra soul essential to big continental evenings. In three minutes of added time, the Lensois turned everything around.
In the 91st minute, Florian Thauvin put the two teams level with a furious header. A surprising achievement that he himself commented on with a smile after the final whistle: “We will have seen everything in football if I start scoring with my head! More than a goal, it’s a state of mind. When you give it your all until the end, you score with your feet, your head, your buttocks… That’s football! »
“Football is the best sport in the world”
Then came the final blow in the 93rd minute. Served in the area, Ruben Aguilar adjusted a surgical cross shot to offer victory to his team. An unreal outcome which left the right side on cloud nine. “Football is the best sport in the world for experiencing such emotions, he whispered at the end of the meeting. At 2-1, we didn’t say to ourselves that we were going to win but we believed in it. This scenario was impossible to write but we’re taking it, tonight we’re enjoying it. » For the former Monegasque, this match immediately enters into the “top 3 most fabulous scenarios” of his career.
Beyond the accounting aspect before hosting Sporting on October 13, this success validates the cohesion of a united locker room. “We’re really friends. We have fun, we suffer together every day. The whole club is rewarded »affirmed the former Monegasque in comments relayed by RMC, recalling in passing the total commitment required by the institution:
“When we wear this logo, we must invest 100%. Only in this club can you experience such emotions. »
Thauvin did not say anything else, emphasizing the solidarity of the entrants. “We fought like lions, we didn’t give up, he said. This is how we create this extra soul for a season. » A newfound alchemy that will now have to be transposed into Ligue 1, starting this Sunday (5:15 p.m.) with the reception at Le Mans. But for now, the Sang et Or can enjoy: they offered the people of Lens an unforgettable thrill.
