Lyon 2-2 Lens Player Ratings: Thauvin 9/10 MOTM as Lens Reach Coupe de France Semi-Finals After Penalty Shootout Win

Olympique Lyonnais saw their Coupe de France hopes come to a heartbreaking end after a dramatic 2-2 draw against RC Lens ended in a 5-4 penalty shootout defeat. Despite dominating possession for most of the match, Lyon were forced to chase the game after Lens struck twice in the first half through Florian Thauvin and Abdallah Sima.

Lens looked firmly in control heading into the final stages before Roman Yaremchuk pulled one back in the 67th minute to spark hope for the hosts. Lyon then produced a dramatic late moment when Remi Himbert scored deep into stoppage time to level the contest at 2-2, sending the quarter-final clash into a penalty shootout.

However, Lens held their nerve from the spot, edging the shootout 5-4 to secure their place in the Coupe de France semi-finals. The result sends Lyon crashing out of the competition, while Lens continues their impressive cup run with a hard-fought victory. Here are Sportsdunia's Lyon vs Lens player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Lyon scored twice in the final stages through Roman Yaremchuk and Remi Himbert to force penalties.
• The visitors kept their composure in the shootout, winning 5-4 to book a place in the semi-finals.
• Despite dominating possession, Lyon’s defensive lapses in the first half ultimately proved costly.

Lyon Player Ratings vs Lens

Here are the Lyon player ratings against Lens.

Goalkeeper

Rémy Descamps - 6.0: He conceded two goals but couldn't be faulted for either. Descamps made a couple of decent saves to keep the scoreline from getting worse in the first half. His distribution was solid enough under pressure. Overall, an average day at the office for the keeper.

Defenders

Nicolás Tagliafico - 4.5: A night to forget for the Argentine. From our perspective, he struggled from the very first whistle. He was caught out of position and looked off the pace against Thauvin. A yellow card just before halftime summed up his frustrations.

Moussa Niakhaté - 5.5: A very busy evening for the central defender. While he made several clearances and won most of his aerial duels, he also committed five fouls. He seemed a step behind the Lens attackers for large parts of the game. It was a battling performance but lacked composure.

Clinton Mata - 6.5: Probably the best of a bad bunch in the Lyon defense. Mata was solid, making seven clearances and a couple of key interceptions. He was tidy in possession and tried to build from the back. He couldn't do it all himself, though.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles - 5.0: A frustrating performance from Maitland-Niles, which was unfortunately cut short by injury. He struggled to make an impact going forward and was defensively suspect at times. He looked uncomfortable and never really got into the flow of the match.

Midfielders

Corentin Tolisso - 7.0: The captain tried his best to drag his team back into the game. He was the main creative force, creating an impressive five chances for his teammates. Tolisso worked tirelessly in midfield, but was often fighting a losing battle.

Abner - 6.0: An energetic but ultimately ineffective display. Abner covered a lot of ground and was neat on the ball but offered little in the final third. He did his defensive duties, but we expected more creativity from him in a home cup tie. He was just... there.

Tyler Morton - 5.5: A quiet game for Morton. He kept possession well with a high pass accuracy, but his performance was too passive. We noticed he rarely looked for a forward pass, which slowed down Lyon's attacks. He needs to be more assertive and take more risks.

Noah Nartey - 6.5: A decent outing for the young midfielder before he was substituted. He was combative, winning most of his duels and recovering the ball well. He also showed glimpses of creativity with a couple of key passes. A promising performance that lacked a defining moment.

Forwards

Endrick - 6.0: The forward worked hard but had little to show for it. He was often isolated and had to dig deep to get involved. He showed a few flashes of his skill but was well-marshalled by the Lens defence. A frustrating night for the talented attacker.

Roman Yaremchuk - 8.0: Lyon's best player on the pitch. Yaremchuk was a constant threat. He scored a great header to give his team hope and was desperately unlucky to see another effort crash off the crossbar. He fought for every ball and was a real handful.

Substitutes

Rémi Himbert - 6.0: Came on for Tagliafico and looked more solid defensively. Didn't offer much going forward but helped stabilize the backline.

Hans Hateboer - N/A: Came on late for the injured Maitland-Niles.

Adam Karabec - N/A: Introduced late in the game with not enough time to make an impact.

Manager

P. Rodrigues Fonseca - 5.0: His team looked completely unprepared for Lens's first-half intensity. The initial setup was wrong and they were defensively all over the place. While the team showed fight in the second half, it was too little, too late. Questions will be asked about his tactical approach.

Lens Player Ratings vs Lyon

Check out the Lens player ratings vs Lyon.

Goalkeeper

Robin Risser - 6.5: A solid performance from the Lens keeper. He couldn't do anything about the goals in the second half, but made a couple of important saves. His distribution was a bit shaky at times, but he commanded his box well under pressure, especially in the final minutes.

Defenders

Nidal Celik - 5.5: Had a difficult time and picked up a yellow card. He struggled with Lyon's late pressure and was dribbled past on three occasions. He made a couple of important clearances but looked vulnerable for much of the second half.

Malang Sarr - 7.0: Composed and classy at the back. Sarr read the game beautifully, making crucial interceptions and recoveries. His pass completion rate was exceptional, helping Lens play out from the back under pressure.

Ismaëlo Ganiou - 7.5: An absolute rock in the heart of the defense. Ganiou was immense, making four interceptions and six clearances. He won all of his tackles and dominated his duels. An old-school defensive performance that was vital to his team's victory.

Midfielders

Mamadou Sangaré - 8.0: A powerhouse performance in midfield. Sangaré was everywhere, winning ten duels and making ten ball recoveries. He broke up play effectively and used the ball intelligently. What stood out to us was his incredible work rate throughout the 90 minutes.

Matthieu Udol - 6.0: A battling performance, but one that was marred by a yellow card. He was tenacious but often overstepped the mark with his challenges. He lost possession a few too many times for our liking.

Saud Abdulhamid - 7.0: A very impressive showing from the midfielder. He was a constant threat down the right flank, providing quality crosses and making a last-man tackle. His energy was infectious, and he contributed both defensively and offensively.

Adrien Thomasson - 6.5: The captain led by example with his work rate. He was tidy in possession and created a couple of decent chances for his teammates. He didn't have a standout moment, but his consistent effort helped his team control the midfield for long periods.

Forwards

Florian Thauvin - 9.0: The clear man of the match. He was simply unplayable tonight. Thauvin opened the scoring with a poacher's finish and provided a sublime assist for the second goal. Constantly a threat, his movement and creativity were too much for the Lyon defence.

Odsonne Édouard - 5.0: A very disappointing night for the striker. He missed a big chance and looked completely out of sorts. His hold-up play was poor, and he was dispossessed too easily. He picked up a needless yellow card and was rightly substituted.

Abdallah Sima - 7.5: Scored the crucial second goal with a brilliant finish on the counter-attack. He was a constant menace with his pace and direct running. He took five shots in total and was a thorn in Lyon's side all evening.

Substitutes

Amadou Haidara - N/A: Came on for Édouard to help see out the game. Did his job without fuss.

Manager

P. Sage - 8.0: His game plan worked to perfection in the first half. His team was organized, disciplined, and clinical. Even after the red card, his side showed incredible character and resilience to hold on for the win. A tactical masterclass and a well-deserved victory.

Man of the Match

Florian Thauvin was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Nicolás Tagliafico was the worst performer.