Yassine double completes Strasbourg comeback as Lens collapse late

It was a badly needed result for new coach Oliveira after a miserable build-up to the campaign.

Six straight pre-season defeats followed by a 4-0 opening-day loss to Marseille had left Strasbourg badly in need of a lift, and for much of the 1st half it looked as if things might only get worse.

Match highlight

Lens started to take control after an encouraging Strasbourg opening. Franjo Ivanovic had an effort turned away after a sharp move involving Florian Thauvin, and Filip Jorgensen then had to produce 2 strong saves in quick succession to stop Abdallah Sima, first at the near post and then with his fingertips from close range.

Strasbourg did have their own chance against the run of play. Giovanni Reyna, making his home debut, met the ball on the volley but was denied by an excellent reaction save from Robin Risser.

Lens soon went in front after a rash challenge from league debutant Jeyland Mitchell, who brought down Sima inside the box. Thauvin stepped up and converted the penalty for his 100th Ligue 1 goal.

Strasbourg had one huge chance before the break, but Risser stayed alert again and kicked away Jacobo Ortega's effort to preserve the visitors' lead.

History suggested that should have been enough. Lens had won 24 of the last 26 league matches in which they had scored first, but Strasbourg had other ideas after the break.

The equaliser came from a sharp move finished by Yassine, whose shot took a deflection on the way past Risser and gave the home side fresh life.

Only minutes later, Yassine was involved again with a dangerous cross toward the far post, where Sebastian Nanasi forced Risser into another stop. The ball then bounced off the bar and fell kindly for Ortega, who thought he had completed the turnaround on his home debut.

But after a long VAR check, the goal was ruled out for a very tight offside.

That briefly slowed Strasbourg's momentum, and the game drifted into a more tense, balanced spell where clear chances became harder to find.

Then Yassine struck again. With only 5 minutes left, he met a lofted ball with a close-range volley and finally turned the match on its head.

Matthieu Udol hit the post with a header from a corner, but Strasbourg survived the scare and held on for an impressive win.

The home crowd will not care too much that their side have now gone 10 straight league matches without a clean sheet. What matters more is that Strasbourg picked up only their 2nd win in the last 9 meetings between these clubs.

For Lens, the late collapse ends their unbeaten start to the campaign and hands Dino Toppmoller's side a first competitive defeat under his management.