In a thrilling Ligue 1 encounter, RC Strasbourg Alsace mounted a spirited second-half comeback to defeat RC Lens 2-1 at home, thanks to a brace from 20-year-old Moroccan forward Yassine Jassim. The result marked the first league win for Strasbourg’s new Portuguese coach Hugo Oliveira, who had suffered a heavy 0-4 defeat to Marseille in his opening match.
Lens Takes the Lead Through Tovian’s Penalty
Lens opened the scoring in the 38th minute when Florian Tovian converted a penalty, notching his 100th career league goal. The French striker has been in sensational form, having scored twice against Auxerre the previous week and netting the winner in the Champions Trophy against Paris Saint-Germain. His early season exploits had put Lens in a commanding position as they looked to build on their strong start.
Jassim’s Quick Response Levels the Match
Strasbourg came out with renewed energy after the break, and their pressure paid off just three minutes into the second half. A pass from Swedish midfielder Sebastian Nanasi found Jassim, whose shot deflected off a Lens defender and found the back of the net, opening his scoring account for the club. The goal injected life into the home side, who pushed forward in search of a winner.
Strasbourg thought they had taken the lead in the 56th minute when Spanish defender Jacobo Ortega headed home, but the goal was disallowed for offside after a VAR review. The decision momentarily deflated the home crowd, but they did not have to wait long for the decisive moment.
Jassim Seals the Win with a Fine Finish
With five minutes remaining, Jassim struck again. Nanasi delivered a pinpoint cross, and Jassim met it with a precise shot into the far post, securing all three points for Strasbourg. The goal capped a memorable performance for the young Moroccan, who showed composure and clinical finishing beyond his years.
Lens nearly equalized immediately after, as a powerful header from Mathieu Odoul crashed off the post, but Strasbourg held on to claim a vital victory.
Other Ligue 1 Results
Elsewhere, Lyon continued their poor run of form with a 1-1 draw at home against Le Havre, just three days after a 1-2 defeat to Fenerbahçe in the Champions League qualifiers. The result leaves Lyon winless in their opening two league matches.
Newly promoted Troyes secured a valuable 2-1 away win at Lorient, moving them to third place temporarily with four points, level on points with Lille and Lyon but behind on goal difference. The win was a significant boost for the promoted side as they look to establish themselves in the top flight.
Angers claimed their first victory of the season with a 3-1 win at bottom-placed Auxerre, while Brest fought back to draw 2-2 at Toulouse. The results set up an intriguing Sunday of fixtures, including Paris FC hosting Nice, Rennes facing Le Mans, and Monaco taking on Marseille.