The Lensois needed the penalty shootout on Thursday to eliminate the Merlus in the round of 16 (1-1, 4-2 on pens).
Game, spaces, intensity and suspense: the last round of 16 of the Coupe de France kept all its promises. At the end of the penalty shootout, Lens took the best of Lorient on Thursday February 9 to qualify for the quarter-finals for the first time since 2018. They will face Nantes there on March 1 in a stadium de la Beaujoire behind closed doors.
In slow motion in Ligue 1 with no victory in their last three meetings, the Lensois again eliminated a Breton resident of the elite after Brest in the round of 16 (3-1). However, they had a great scare when they had to go through the penalty shootout. Finding the bar on his attempt, Enzo Le Fée started the Lorient series badly and was imitated by Ibrahima Koné, before Facundo Medina ratified the qualification of the Sang et Or.
Fulgini goalscorer for his first tenure
However, it was Enzo Le Fée, the young (23 years old since February 3) and talented attacking midfielder, who allowed the Hakes to equalize in the last ten minutes. His direct free kick went over Salis Abdul Samed to deceive Jean-Louis Leca (84th). “I think we jump on the wall badly”, regretted on BeIN Sports the Lensois doorman. The equalizer was logical for the Lorient people as they swept over the artesian goal. The strike from Jean-Victor Makengo (78th), following an avoidable ball loss from Seko Fofana, was only a warning.
Lens had however entered his match very well despite the seven absences deplored by Franck Haise. Fortunately, the Lensois coach was able to count on his new recruit Angelo Fulgini. The former Angevin, who arrived in the last hours of the winter transfer window, opened the scoring by quickly taking over a ball pushed back at his feet by Vito Mannone, the Lorient goalkeeper (21st). “It’s pure happiness, I arrived not long ago, it’s the best way to gain confidence”rejoiced Fulgini, who unlocked his counter in his new colors from his first tenure.
The attacking midfielder was very prominent during the first period. Not always on the right track, he could have been penalized for a foul in his area when he tripped Darlin Yongwa shortly before the break. But the referee did not consider it worth a penalty (42nd).
“The objective is to win the Coupe de France”
Often dangerous, the Northerners have never managed to take shelter despite several opportunities, from Adrien Thomasson (23rd), David Pereira da Costa (45th + 3) and Loïs Openda (49th). They thus left the door open and Lorient was engulfed in it by Enzo Le Fée.
Forceps, Lens still joined the quarter-finals of a much more open competition since the elimination, Wednesday, of PSG. “The objective is to win this Coupe de France, we are not going to hide”, said Jean-Louis Leca. The Sang et Or are only two successes away from a first final since 1998.