French Cup: Linas-Montlhéry lasted 70 minutes against Lens

The shot did not go far from a penalty shootout where anything is possible, especially when you excel in this exercise with 5 wins out of six attempts in two seasons.

But, ESA Linas-Montlhéry (R1) cracked just under 20 minutes from the end when the best Lensois player, Seko Fofana, who had just come into play, opened the scoring.

The Essonniens nevertheless offered a good resistance against the dolphin of PSG in L1 in a well-stocked Robert-Bobin stadium with nearly 10,000 spectators including many northern supporters.

Since 2020, ESA Linas-Montlhéry has taken a liking to the Coupe de France with two 32nd finals in a 16th final including a historic qualification (2-0) against the pros of Angers (L1) the last season.

Three years after having quickly cracked against PSG in the same stadium (0-6), the Essonne team wanted to "annoy as long as possible", according to its president Mickaël Bertansetti, a Lensoise team on its little cloud since its success against PSG ( 3-1) last Sunday.

Lensois coach Franck Haise had decided to field a mixed team compared to the one that had inflicted its first defeat (3-1) of the season on the capital club.

Six players from the L1 shock (Gradit, Danso, Haïdara, Abdul Samed, Claude Maurice and Openda) started this Saturday afternoon.

Logically, the Northerners quickly confiscate the balls against Essonnians well grouped in their part of the field around a central axis Khairi - Doucouré effective and intractable in the surface.

Opportunities are rare.

A header from Le Cardinal, who arrived during the winter transfer window from Paris FC, passed slightly above (13th) then the crushed recovery from Boura did not surprise Ali Lumba (18th).

The doorman intervenes, on the other hand, brilliantly on an attempt by Claude Maurice at the entrance to the surface (25th).

A clamor rang out at the end of the first act when Le Cardinal intervened in the area following a ride from Djiba (40th).

After the break, Linas-Montlhéry even manages to get the ball out better.

Franck Haise then decides to bring in 3 starters (Fofana, Sotoca and Pereira Da Costa) to force the decision.

Ten minutes later, Le Cardinal's shot hit the upright then returned to Fofana who scored in the top corner of Lutumba (0-1, 72nd).

Five minutes later, Sotoca lonely at the far post doubled the lead (0-2, 78th).

The Northerners can breathe.

They continue the adventure in the Coupe de France, a competition that continues to elude them.

The Essonniens will be able to devote themselves to their championship where they fight not to go down.

ESA LINAS-MONTLHERY (N3) - RC LENS (L1): 0-2 (0-0).

Spectators: 10,000. Referee: Mr. Lesage.

Goals.

Fofana (72nd), Sotoca (77th).

Linas-Montlhéry:

Lutumba - Tchato (Lavri, 80th), Khairi, Doucouré, Djiba (Kouassi, 80th) - Gabriel, Kukidi, Admi - Bouvil (Baroudi, 64th), Leno (cap.), Cissé (Bekhada, 78th).

Entr.

: Mabrouk and Cabrelli.

Lens:

Leca - Le Cardinal, Danso, Gradit (cap.) (Bonta, 85th) - Boura, Abdul Samed (Frankowski, 78th), Poreba (Fofana, 62nd), Haïdara - Labeau Lascary, Openda (Sotoca, 62nd), Claude Mauritius (Pereira Da Costa, 62nd).

Entr.

: Haise.