Thauvin and Hazard swap assists as Lens come from behind to beat Paris FC 2-1

Lens came from a goal down to beat Paris FC 2-1 at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Saturday, with Florian Thauvin and substitute Thorgan Hazard each scoring one goal and setting up the other. A win would have taken Paris FC top of Ligue 1; instead Lens coach Yannick Cahuzac's side collected a third consecutive league victory.

Paris FC strike against the run of play

Lens controlled the first half in pouring rain and a strong wind. Obed Nkambadio, in goal for Paris FC in his first match of the season with Kevin Trapp absent, kept them out with a save from a header by Lens forward Florian Sotoca on 27 minutes, then stopped Sotoca again just before half-time. A long VAR check over a possible handball by Paris FC's Diego Coppola ended with no penalty. The visitors then scored against the run of play. Paris FC's Lassine Sinayoko released team-mate Luca Koleosho on the counter and the forward finished low with his right foot in the second minute of first-half stoppage time. Koleosho did not come back out after the break because of a muscle alert. "We'd have liked to leave with the three points, we were capable of doing it. It's a shame," he told Ligue 1+.

A red card cancelled, then the turnaround

The second half began with Lens' Jean-Clair Todibo shown a red card for a challenge on Sinayoko, but VAR cancelled it because Paris FC's Ilan Kebbal had been offside earlier in the move. Kebbal then missed a good chance to double Paris FC's lead. Cahuzac sent on Hazard for Franjo Ivanović on 61 minutes, and the change paid off two minutes later. After a one-two with the Belgian, Thauvin cut in from the right and drove a low left-footed shot past Nkambadio. According to Foot Mercato, it was the 33-year-old's 300th Ligue 1 match. The winner came on 83 minutes. Thauvin crossed from the left, Sotoca let the ball run between his legs, and Hazard volleyed in with his left foot for his first goal for Lens. "He's someone who can play anywhere," Cahuzac said of Hazard, adding he was not surprised to see him perform even as a number 9.

Half-time anger

Lens had lost 3-0 to Club Brugge in their previous match, and Thauvin said the dressing room was loud at the break. "There was shouting at half-time in the dressing room, I shouted too. We're not dead, we're a team with character," he told Ligue 1+.

What it changes

Lens rise to sixth on 13 points from eight matches, one behind Paris FC in fourth. Lyon, Paris Saint-Germain, Lille and Monaco are also on 14 points with a game in hand: Monaco host Lille on Sunday and PSG face Lyon on Monday. Sinayoko's assist was his third of the season to go with six goals, second in the scoring chart behind Rennes' Esteban Lepaul on seven. Lens travel to Lille on Friday 30 October, while Paris FC host Monaco on Sunday 1 November.