Racing Club de Lens salvaged a crucial point in their Ligue 1 clash against Stade Rennais on Saturday, thanks to a dramatic late goal from Angolan striker Mbala Nzola. The match, played at Roazhon Park, ended in a 1-1 draw after Nzola’s last-minute heroics ensured Lens avoided defeat in what was a tense contest during the fifth round of the French league.
The home side, Stade Rennais, took the lead in the first half, capitalising on a penalty awarded in the 24th minute.
The penalty was converted by the Rennes forward, putting the hosts ahead in front of their supporters.
Lens, who came into the game undefeated since the start of the season, found themselves chasing the game from that moment on.
Despite falling behind, Lens did not relent.
The Blood and Gold applied consistent pressure on the Rennais defence, creating several opportunities to equalise.
However, their efforts were repeatedly thwarted, either by the resolute Rennes backline or by goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, who made several key saves to preserve his team’s lead.
Lens dominated possession in the second half, but every attempt at breaking down the Rennes defence seemed to fall short.
The clock was ticking down, and it looked as though Rennes would secure all three points.
Yet, Lens kept their composure and continued to push forward.
With the game nearing its conclusion, Lens was awarded a free kick in a promising position.
Mbala Nzola, who has been pivotal in Lens’ strong start to the season, stepped up to take the set-piece.
In the dying moments of the match, Nzola delivered, heading the ball into the back of the net to level the score at 1-1.
His goal stunned the Rennes supporters and sent the travelling Lens fans into celebration.
The dramatic equaliser extended Lens’ unbeaten run to five games since the start of the Ligue 1 season, maintaining their strong form.
Nzola’s goal was a testament to his knack for delivering in crucial moments, helping his side secure a valuable point in a tightly contested fixture.
Following the draw, RC Lens remains undefeated and now sits in fifth place in the Ligue 1 standings with nine points from five matches.
The team has shown resilience throughout their campaign, consistently fighting back when under pressure, as seen in this fixture against Rennes.
Meanwhile, Stade Rennais, despite taking the lead and controlling parts of the game, could not hold on to secure a win.
They now find themselves in eighth place with seven points, as they await the conclusion of the fifth matchday.
With both teams aspiring for strong finishes this season, this hard-fought draw demonstrates the competitive nature of the Ligue 1 campaign.
Lens will hope to build on this result in their upcoming fixtures, while Rennes will look to bounce back as they continue their push for European qualification.
As the Ligue 1 season progresses, matches like these show the unpredictability of the competition, with every point proving crucial.
90’+6 (1-1)
⚽️ 𝐋𝐄 𝐁𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐓 𝐏𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐋𝐄 𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆 !!! Sur ce coup franc lensois, M’Bala Nzola, en embuscade, vient propulser le ballon au fond des filets et inscrit son premier but en Sang et Or !!! Le Racing égalise !💪#SRFCRCL pic.twitter.com/G3VLT5sUSz
— Racing Club de Lens (@RCLens) September 21, 2024
