Yannick Cahuzac secured his first victory in charge of RC Lens as his side overcame Olympique Lyonnais 2-1, despite being reduced to 10 men late on.
The result ended Lyon’s unbeaten start to the Ligue 1 season and left them second in the table, after they missed the opportunity to move into first place. Lens climbed from 15th to seventh.
Lyon had conceded only two goals in their opening five league matches before the international break, but they were tested early at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
After 12 minutes, Florian Sotoca’s deflected cross almost looped into the visitors’ goal, forcing Dominik Greif to make a sharp save. Sotoca went close again midway through a slow-paced first half, sending a half-volley over the crossbar.
Both teams had been affected by the three-week pause and struggled to establish sustained momentum, but Lens gradually began to take control.
Sotoca opened the scoring nine minutes before half-time. He controlled Florian Thauvin’s floated cross on his chest before turning and driving a low shot beyond Greif.
It was Sotoca’s second goal in as many matches against Lyon, while Thauvin recorded his third assist in his past three games against Les Gones.
Lens finished the first half strongly. Greif tipped a Thauvin effort over the bar before denying Odsonne Edouard by making himself big in front of the forward.
Lyon had not registered a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes, but they produced one within three minutes of the restart when Pavel Sulc forced Robin Risser into a low save to his right.
The visitors were unable to build sustained pressure, and Lens threatened again when Ruben Aguilar’s swerving effort narrowly missed the near post.
The match became more open during the final quarter, and Lens extended their lead with 14 minutes remaining. Matthieu Udol met Thauvin’s free-kick with a header to score in successive matches.
The goal made Lens the leading scorers in Ligue 1 this season, with 11 goals (G11), but the hosts were soon forced into a tense finish.
Udol was sent off six minutes from time following a poor challenge. Moments later, Khalis Merah pulled a goal back for Lyon with his first Ligue 1 goal for Les Gones.
Despite the late pressure, Lens held on with 10 men to claim a significant victory.
Florian Thauvin was named Flashscore’s Man of the Match.
