RC Lens pulled off a remarkable second-half comeback from a three-goal deficit to secure a 3-3 draw against Stade Brestois, extending the Pirates’ winless streak to five matches (D2, L3).
After securing their place in the Coupe de France final earlier in the week, Lens was determined to deliver another positive result in Brest to keep their Ligue 1 title ambitions alive.
Abdallah Sima squandered an early chance for the visitors, and Pierre Sage’s team was quickly punished in the seventh minute when Daouda Guindo struck a fantastic 25-yard shot into the bottom corner, marking his first goal of the season.
Having triumphed in 14 of their last 15 league encounters this season against teams currently in the lower half of the standings, Lens sought an immediate reply, with Adrien Thomasson missing the target from the edge of the area.
However, it was the home side that increased their lead before the half-hour mark, as Guindo turned from scorer to provider, delivering a pinpoint cross for Lucas Tousart to head in a rare goal.
Sima wasted another golden chance for Les Sang et Or, failing to convert a close-range header, and taking full advantage of that missed opportunity, Brest added a third just before the half-time whistle.
Ludovic Ajorque set up Éric Junior Dina Ebimbe at the edge of the penalty area, and the Eintracht Frankfurt loanee finished with precision past Robin Risser, giving the Pirates a commanding lead.
Reeling from the first-half performance, Sage opted for four substitutions early in the second half, including bringing on Florian Thauvin.
The Frenchman had an immediate effect for the visitors, punishing a blunder from Soumaïla Coulibaly to confidently find the net.
Building on that momentum, Lens netted a second goal just four minutes later, with Saud Abdulhamid’s cross expertly volleyed home by Sima, setting the scene for an exciting final 25 minutes.
Les Sang et Or pushed forward in search of an improbable equaliser, although Grégoire Coudert stood firm in goal for the hosts to thwart Mamadou Sangaré, while Allan Saint-Maximin and Odsonne Édouard both hit the woodwork with their attempts.
Despite the many missed opportunities, the equaliser finally arrived in the fourth minute of added time when Saint-Maximin received a pass from Sangaré and unleashed a spectacular curled shot into the far corner, clinching a dramatic point at the death.
The draw keeps Sage’s side within three points of table-toppers PSG, although they have played one match more.
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