Sima's late heartbreak: Lens steal three points in stoppage time

Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 83/100. In a display of breathless intensity, Lens snatched a dramatic victory at Stade de l'Abbé Deschamps, with substitute Abdallah Sima's 90th-minute goal completing an improbable turnaround against Auxerre.

Édouard's early statement sets the tone

Odsonne Édouard wasted no time. The Lens striker fired home a clinical finish in the 14th minute after Alexis Thomasson's precision assist, establishing early balance despite Auxerre's possession dominance (57%). The home side controlled the tempo but lacked the clinical edge when it mattered most.

The turning point: Sierralta equalises, Ganiou's red card changes everything

At the 61st minute, Francisco Sierralta levelled proceedings and reignited the contest. But the match pivoted at the 73rd when Ismaelo Ganiou saw red—a dismissal that transformed the stakes entirely. Down to ten men, Lens faced a test of character. The combined 25 shots on the night underscored the intensity: three lead changes, each side refusing to surrender, every possession carrying weight.

Sima's moment: substitute heroics break Auxerre's resistance

Enter the 90th minute. Sima, introduced just nine minutes earlier, latched onto Thomasson's final pass and buried it past the goalkeeper. Lens completed an unlikely escape, climbing to 16 points, while Auxerre's struggles—now languishing 16th with just six points—deepen. One match, three leaders, one cruel denouement.