Lens celebrated a historic achievement by claiming their first French Cup title, with standout forward Florian Thauvin contributing a goal and an assist in a 3-1 victory over Nice during the final held on Friday.
Throughout the season, Lens kept pace with Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1, but ultimately fell six points short, finishing second as their competition intensified later in the season.
Friday’s match held at the Stade de France was a well-deserved victory for a team expertly managed by coach Pierre Sage, who balanced the squad with emerging talents and seasoned professionals.
Thauvin netted the first goal in the 25th minute, making him the scorer in the quarterfinal, semifinal, and final, before Odsonne Édouard doubled the advantage with a header from Thauvin’s corner just three minutes before halftime.
Almost immediately, Djibril Coulibaly pulled one back for Nice, but Abdallah Sima secured the title for Lens, scoring the team’s third goal with just 12 minutes left on the clock.
The outcome was disappointing for Nice, which struck the woodwork twice, yet it reflected their poor form in the closing weeks of the season, having not won in Ligue 1 since mid-March and finishing third-to-last.
Next week, Nice’s status in Ligue 1 will be determined in a promotion/relegation playoff against Saint-Étienne.
The match also made headlines for referee Jérôme Brisard’s numbered shirt, part of a campaign promoting respect for officials. Brisard wore No. 84, referencing a poll indicating that 84% of French participants believe that promoting respect for referees is crucial for protecting the integrity of sports.
Referees in various other sports, including rugby and basketball, are scheduled to wear the same number in their upcoming fixtures.