On a very night in Lyon, Lens comprehensively ended a run of OL wins and themselves moved closer to challenging for a Champions League position.
Before a sizeable crowd at the Groupama Stadium, the home side had to do without top scorer Alexander Lacazette as well as nullify the talented Elye Wahi.
They ultimately managed neither and despite going close early on ended up being well beaten.
Lens began the match brightly and they would get more possession, win more duels, get more interceptions, and, most importantly of all, score the goals.
But the home side did threaten when Orel Mangala struck the post within fifteen minutes.
However, that was pretty much the closest they came notwithstanding a late flourish when a Jake O’Brien header went over the bar.
The somewhat enigmatic Said Benrahma, on loan from West Ham, did produce some efforts but they were always wayward and he would be replaced later in the second period.
On the other flank, Ghanaian Ernest Nuamah had the better chances but each time they were thwarted by Brice Samba.
While in the middle young Nigerian Gift Orban found it hard to affect the contest.
But for the ‘Blood and Gold’ it was a solid performance often controlled by midfielders David Costa and Senegal’s Nampalys Mendy.
And it followed a period of dominance that Lens took the lead after Costa crossed for Florian Sotoca to head in from close range on 42 minutes.
Soon after the break, it was 2-0 when the OL captain was (rightly) judged to have handled in the area.
The twenty-one-year-old Wahi stepped up to guide his shot into the corner past Lopes.
It already looked like a difficult task for Lyon to recover with a confident Lens restricting the home side’s options.
OL’s chances were further diminished when Maitland-Niles was dismissed for pushing over sub. Said when the forward was on a break.
The final blow came when defender Danso was left free to nod in a Thomasson cross for number three.
That resulted in a large exodus of the home fans and celebrations among the thousand or so away contingent high up in the stands.
It had been a comprehensive victory for the visitors and allows them to hope for Champions League status next season.
Analysis - John Bethell
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