Lens hold on with 10 men to deliver Lyon's first loss of Ligue 1 campaign

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/lyon/2akflumR/"]Lyon[/a] conceded just two goals across their five Ligue 1 games before the international break, but they nearly went behind after just 12 minutes when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sotoca-florian/AgROGWlt/"]Florian Sotoca[/a] turned a deflected cross goalwards, drawing a sharp save from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/greif-dominik/ID9k7lap/"]Dominik Greif[/a].[/p][p]Sotoca then lashed a half-volley over the crossbar midway through a first half in which both sides struggled to build momentum, which was understandable in their first game back after the three-week pause.[/p][p][b]Sotoca was central again as he gave [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/lens/IBmris38/"]Les Sang et Or[/a] the lead nine minutes before half-time, taking down [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/thauvin-florian/SMbMSc26/"]Florian Thauvin[/a]’s floated cross with his chest and swivelling to fire low past Greif. [/b][/p][p]It was the striker’s second goal in as many games against Lyon, and Thauvin’s third assist in his last three meetings with Les Gones.[/p][image alt="Match momentum" id="6a2e096a-3e08-4cb0-a173-46f0d1afd59c" credit-line="Flashscore" hidden-attrs="alt, credit" guid="67bb2b28-d14e-4ca5-808a-9bf7d56b4f16" original-width="3840" original-height="2160" /][p]Greif then tipped Thauvin’s effort over the bar before the goalkeeper spread himself to deny [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/edouard-odsonne/0nQoakto/"]Odsonne Edouard[/a], as Lens ended the half strongly.[/p][p]Lyon did not manage a single shot on target in the opening 45 minutes, but that changed within three minutes of the restart when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sulc-pavel/dYaeeH8k/"]Pavel Sulc[/a] forced [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/risser-robin/zHRwZwXF/"]Robin Risser[/a] into a save down to his right.[/p][p]There was no onslaught from the visitors, though, and Lens’ [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/aguilar-ruben/Of80t1aH/"]Ruben Aguilar[/a] was next to go close when he sent a swerving shot just wide of the near post.[/p][embed guid="601b258f-bffe-45ea-8710-a32b8987415f" url="https://x.com/Ligue1_ENG/status/2108659551268446688" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]The game opened up as it entered into the final quarter, and Lens doubled their lead 14 minutes from time when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/udol-matthieu/AuzyopRB/"]Matthieu Udol[/a] headed home Thauvin’s free-kick to score for the second match in succession.[/b][/p][p]That goal saw Les Sang et Or become the league’s highest goalscorers this season (G11), [b]but they experienced a double setback as Udol was sent off for a poor challenge six minutes from time before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/merah-khalis/SpPZDoMh/"]Khalis Merah[/a] halved the deficit moments later with his first Ligue 1 goal for Les Gones.[/b][/p][p]It set up a nervy finale for the hosts, but the 10 men held on to claim a victory that sees them climb from 15th to seventh, while Lyon stay second after missing out on the chance to move to the top of the table.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/thauvin-florian/SMbMSc26/"]Florian Thauvin[/a] (Lens)[/b][/p][image alt="Key match stats" id="7dbb5c04-e45b-47cd-9ce8-ef58889a9d47" credit-line="Flashscore" hidden-attrs="alt, credit" guid="ab4b92fa-1d99-437e-840a-2e021bfb7c70" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/lens-IBmris38/lyon-2akflumR/summary/stats/?mid=MFDuQNS6"]Catch up on the match stats with Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]